^ 

^^<^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^' 


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//     '  ^"J^ 


^ 


4^ 


1.0 


11.25 


l^|2£    125 

US 

12.2 


in 
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14.0 


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^Sdebces 

Carporation 


33  WBT  MAIN  STIHT 

WIUTn,N.Y.  M5M 

(716)I72-4S03 


^  A 


^ 


V 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVl/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatorlquaa 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notaa  tachniquaa  et  bibliographiquas 


The  inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibllographlcally  unlqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  algnlficantly  change 
the  uaual  method  of  filming,  are  checlced  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covera/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I     I   Covera  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagte 


Covera  reatored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  reataurto  et/ou  pellicula 


I      I   Cover  title  miaaing/ 


La  titre  de  couverture  manque 


□   Coloured  mapa/ 
Cartea  g^ographiquas  en  couleur 


Coloured  Ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I     I   Coloured  plataa  and/or  llluatrationa/ 


Planchaa  et/ou  illuatrationa  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
RallA  avac  d'autrea  documanta 


□   Tight  binding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortlon 
along  Interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  aerrie  peut  cauaar  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortlon  la  long  de  la  marge  IntArleure 


Blank  leavaa  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poMlble,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certalnea  |>agaa  blanchea  ajoutiea 
lora  d'une  reatauration  apparalaaant  dana  la  taxte, 
ifiaia,  loraqua  cela  Atait  poaaibia,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
jaa  *t4  filmiaa. 


L'inatltut  a  microfilm*  la  mellleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  poaaibia  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtalla 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniquea  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographlque,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  m6thoda  normale  de  fllmage 
aont  Indiqute  ci-deaaoua. 


I     I   Coloured  pagea/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  endommagtea 


□   Pagea  reatored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  reataurAea  et/ou  w'alllculiea 

E   Pagea  diacoloured.  atained  or  foxed/ 
Pagea  dAcoloriaa,  tachattea  ou  piquAea 

0   Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  dAtachtes 

0Showthrough/ 
Tranaparence 

□   Quality  of  print  variaa/ 
Quality  iniigala  de  I'impreac^on 

□   Includea  auppiamentary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  aupplAmentaire 

□   Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  MItlon  diaponible 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauaa,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaura  the  beat  poai  <bla  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partleliement 
obacurciea  par  up  fauillet  d'arrata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t*  fiimAea  A  nouvaau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  mailleure  Image  poaaibia. 


The  cc 
to  the 

Da 
Ur 

Theinr 
poaalb 
of  the 
filminf 


Origin) 
beginr 
the  lai 
aion,  fl 
other  ^ 
firat  pt 
aion,  a 
or  illua 


Thelai 
ahall  c 
TINUE 
which( 

Mapa, 
diffare 
entireli 
beginn 
right  a 
requiri 
metho( 


\/ 


Additional  commenta:/ 
Commantalraa  supplAmentairaa; 


Variout  pagingi. 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-deaaoua. 

10X  14X  ItX  22X 


26X 


aox 


y 


12X 


16X 


aox 


MX 


28X 


32X 


ilaire 
M  details 
Iquas  du 
nt  modifier 
Kigar  una 
ia  filmaga 


d/ 
iuAas 


Tha  copy  fICmad  hara  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Dam  Portar  Arts  Library 
Univarsity  of  Watarloo 

Tha  imagaa  appearing  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  iagibility 
of  tlia  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacificationa. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copiaa  ara  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  imprea- 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  laat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impreaaion. 


Tha  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
ahall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  8ym»"        (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


L'exemplaira  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnAroaitA  da: 

Dana  Portar  Arts  Library 
Univarsity  of  WatarhM 

Lea  images  suivantes  ont  At*  raproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  da  la  condition  at 
da  ia  nattetA  de  l'exemplaira  fiimA,  at  en 
conformitA  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Las  exemplalraa  originaux  dont  ia  couvarture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmAs  an  commandant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  an  terminant  soit  par  la 
darniAra  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreasion  ou  d'iliustration,  soit  par  ia  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Toua  lea  autrea  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreasion  ou  d'iliustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  una  i«lla 
empreinte. 

Un  dea  aymbolas  suivanta  apparattra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  d«  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  la  aymbola  — ►signifie  "A  SUiVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


taira 


IMapa,  plates,  charta,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  expoaure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  frames  aft 
required.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAa  A  das  taux  da  raduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  aaul  clichA,  11  eat  filmA  A  partir 
de  Tangle  aupAriaur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  an  prenant  la  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcaaaaira.  Lea  diagrammea  suivanta 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


by  errata 
fnad  to 

lent 

une  peiure, 

fapon  A 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

I 

I 


POPULAR   HANDBOOK 


OF  THE 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OF 


EASTERN  NORTH  AMERICA. 

By  THOMAi^   NUTTALL. 

Eebtseo  null  Innotateli 
By   MONTAGUE   CHAMBERLAIN. 


Vol.  I. 
THE   LAND    BIRDS. 


BOSTON: 

LITTLE,  BROWN,  AND   COMPANY. 

1891. 


M 


Copyright,  1801. 
Little,  Brown,  and  Company. 


John  Wilson  and  Son,  Cambridge,  U.S.A. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  work  is  practically  an  edition  of  "  A  Manual 
of  the  Ornithology  of  the  United  States  and  of 
Canada,"  written  by  THOMAS  NUTTALL,  though  only  as 
much  of  the  original  title  has  been  retained  as  seemed 
consistent  with  the  changed  character  of  the  text. 

Nuttall's  work  has  been  out  of  print  for  several  years ; 
but  its  popularity  and  real  value  have  kept  it  in  demand, 
and  the  few  copies  recently  offered  for  sale  were  dis- 
posed of  at  high  prices.  A  new  edition  was  thus  called 
for ;  but  it  seemed  unwise  to  issue  the  work  in  its  origi- 
nal form,  or  to  remodel  it  to  the  extent  that  would  be 
required  to  arrange  it  in  harmony  with  the  new  regime 
of  affairs  ornithological ;  for  the  science  has  advanced 
rapidly  since  the  "Manual"  was  written,  and  the 
changes  effected  have  been  numerous  and  important. 
A  new  and  entirely  different  system  of  classification  has 
come  in  vogue ;  the  nomenclature  has  been  altered  and 
trinomials  introduced ;  and,  indeed,  little  is  left  of 
American  ornithology  as  Nuttall  knew  it,  except  the 
birds,  —  and  even  of  these,  two  species  have  become 
extinct,  and  a  large  number  of  new  forms  have  been 
discovered. 

Thomas  Nuttall  came  to  this  country  from  England 
in  1808,  and  between  1825  and  1834  held  the  positions 


VI 


PREFACE. 


of  Curator  of  the  Botanic  Garden  and  Lecturer  on 
Natural  History  at  Harvard  University.  In  1842  he 
returned  to  England,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
in   1859,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three. 

The  first  volume  of  the  "  Manual,"  containing  an 
account  of  the  Land  Birds,  was  published  in  1832,  and 
a  second  edition,  with  some  additional  matter,  appeared 
in  1840.  The  second  volume,  of  which  one  edition  only 
was  issued,  came  out  in  1834. 

The  •'  Manual "  was  the  first  hand-book  of  the  subject 
that  had  been  published,  and  its  delightful  sketches  of 
bird-life  and  its  fragrance  of  the  field  and  forest  carried 
it  into  immediate  favor.  But  Nuttall  was  more  than  a 
mere  lover  of  Nature,  he  had  considerable  scientific  at- 
tainment ;  and  though  he  appears  to  have  enjoyed  the 
study  of  bird-life  more  than  he  did  the  musty  side  of 
ornithology,  with  its  dried  skins  and  drier  technicalities, 
he  had  an  eye  trained  for  careful  observation  and  a  stu- 
dent's respect  for  exact  statement.  It  was  this  rare  com- 
bination that  gave  to  Nuttpll''  work  iis  real  value;  and 
these  chapters  of  his  are  st'll  valuable,  —  much  too  valu- 
able to  be  lost;  for  if  a  great  advance  has  been  made  in 
the  study  of  scientific  orni;;hology,  and  of  the  species 
that  occur  in  the  Western  half  of  the  continent,  our 
knowledge  of  the  life-histories  of  most  of  the  Eastern 
birds  has  been  advanced  but  little  beyond  that  left  us 
by  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries. 

I  must  not  however  be  understood  as  undervaluing 
the  recent  work  of  the  '*  American  School,"  as  they  are 
styled  by  European  writers ;  for  it  may  be  said,  without 
exaggeration,  that  the  present  generation  of  wo-;:ers 
in  this  field  have  placed  American  ornithology   quite 


PREFACE. 


VU 


abreast  of  that  of  any  other  country;  and,  indeed,  as 
I  have  written  elsewhere  in  these  pages,  they  have  been 
called  "  the  pioneers  of  modern  ornithological  science." 
Besides  their  more  technical  work,  the  American  stu- 
dents have  written  some  of  the  best  chapters  of  bird 
biop:raphy  to  be  found  in  the  entire  range  of  ornitho- 
logical literature. 

While  this  is  but  a  frank  statement  of  facts,  we  must 
concede  that  the  older  writers  noted  so  carefully  the 
habits  of  the  birds  they  knew  tha!  comparatively  little 
was  left  for  their  successors  to  discover. 

It  was  suggested  to  me  that  the  new  might  be  com- 
bined with  the  old,  —  that  an  interesting  and  useful 
book  might  be  prepared  by  taking  Nuttall's  biographies 
and  inserting  brief  notes  relating  the  results  of  recent 
determinations  in  distribution  and  habits.  That  is  what 
I  have  attempted  ui  the  present  work.  The  Introduc- 
tion has  been  given  exactly  as  it  appeared  in  Nuttall's 
second  edition,  and  the  text  of  the  biographical  matter 
has  been  changed  but  little.  My  notes  follow  each 
chapter  in  a  smaller  type,  that  they  may  be  readily 
distinguished.  I  have  also  rewritten  the  descriptions  ot 
plumage,  and  have  endeavored  to  phrase  these  in  such 
well-known  and  untechnical  terms  that  they  may  be 
understood  by  unskilled  readers.  To  these  I  have 
added  a  description  of  the  nest  and  eggs  of  each 
species.  In  short,  an  efifort  has  been  made  to  prepare 
a  work  th^t  will  be  useful  to  young  students,  as  well 
as  entertaining  to  those  who  are  merely  interested  in 
birds. 

The  new  matter  has  been  selected  with  special  re- 
gard for  the  needs  of  these   classes  of  readers,  for  I 


vm 


PREFACE. 


have  had  another  motive  in  the  preparation  of  this 
work  besides  that  of  preserving  Nuttall's  biographies. 
Some  time  ago  I  made  a  promise  to  several  Canadian 
friends  to  prepare  a  book  treating  of  Canadian  birds 
that  would  be  scientifically  correct  and  at  the  same  time 
"  popular"  in  its  style.  So  while  writing  these  pages 
I  have  kept  Canadian  readers  constantly  in  mind,  and 
have  give»i  here  an  account  of  every  species  that  has 
been  found  within  the  Dominion  east  of  the  Manitoba 
plains,  together  with  their  Canadian  distribution. 

The  limits  of  a  "  hand-book  "  demanding  the  most 
rigid  economy  of  space,  when  treating  of  so  extensive 
a  subject  I  have  been  compelled  to  omit  those  species 
which  occur  only  to  the  westward  of  the  Mississippi 
valley,  though  I  have  endeavored  to  make  mention  of 
every  bird  that  has  occurred  within  this  Eastern  Faunal 
Province,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  Arctic  Ocean, 
and  to  give  their  distribution  and  breeding  aiea  so  far 
as  these  are  known.  Nuttall  knew  very  little  about 
the  Western  birds,  and  therefore  only  a  few  short 
chapters  of  his  have  been  lost  through  restricting  the 
scope  of  the  present  work  to  Eastern  forms. 

The  nomenclature  adopted  is  that  of  the  "  Check- 
List"  issued  by  the  American  Ornithologists'  Union. 
The  sequence  of  species  is  that  arranged  by  Nuttall, 
with  some  few  trifling  alterations;  and  being  radically 
different  from  that  of  recant  authors,  the  student  must 
be  referred  to  other  works  for  guidance  in  classification 
as  well  as  for  diagnoses  of  the  higher  groups.  Coues' 
*'  Key  to  North  American  Birds"  is  a  useful  work,  and 
contains  matter  not  obtainable   elsewhere,  though  the 


PREFACE. 


IX 


sy  em  of  classification  now  generally  used  is  more 
clearly  stated  in  Ridgway's  "  Manual  of  North  Amer- 
ican Birds."  But  the  most  complete  work  at  present 
obtainable,  and  one  which  every  student  should  have  at 
hand,  is  "The  History  of  North  American  Birds,"  by 
Baird,  Brewer,  and  Ridgway.  With  that  work  and  the 
"  A.  O.  U.  Check-List "  to  guide  him,  the  student  will 
be  equipped  for  thorough  study. 

It  only  remains  for  me  to  thank  many  friends  who 
have  aided  me.  To  Mr.  William  Brewster  and  Mr. 
Charles  F.  Batchelder,  the  president  and  the  treasurer 
of  the  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  I  am  particularly 
indebted  for  kind  advice  and  assistance.  Nor  must  I 
forget  to  mention  the  name  of  my  fellow-worker,  Ernest 
E.  Thompson,  of  Toronto.  A  large  number  of  the 
illustrations  are  from  drawings  made  especially  for  this 
work  by  Mr.  Thompson. 

M.  C. 


Harvard  University,  Cambridge,  Mass. 
September^  1891. 


c 
c 
c 
c 
c 


c 
c 
c 

c 

c 

c 

E 
E 


F 
F 


C  O  N  T  E  N  TS. 


Pack 

Blackbird,  Red-winged  .  .  96 
Rusty  .  .  .  .119 
Yellow-headed     .  102 

Bluebird 285 

BoSolink 109 

Bunting,  Indigo 310 

Painted 314 

Caracara,  Audubon's   ...      6 

Cardinal 362 

Catbird 19S 

Chat 172 

Chickadee 146 

Carolina    .    .     .     .150 

Hudsonian     .    .       151 

Chuck-will's-widow     ....  465 

Cowbird 104 

Creeper,  Bahama  Honey     .    .  388 

Brown 387 

Crossbill,  American    ....  378 
White-winged      .     .  381 

Crow 126 

Fish 131 

Cuckoo,  Black-billed  ....  436 
Mangrove  ....  437 
Yellow-billed     .    .    .  432 

DiCKCISSEL 298 

Eagle,  Bald 19 

Golden 15 

Gray  Sea 26 

Finch,  Purple 372 

Flicker 438 


Flycatcher,  Acadian  . 
Crested  . 
Least  .  . 
Olive-sided 
Traill's .  . 
Yellow-bellied 


Gnatcatcher  .    . 
Goldfinch  .... 

American 
Goshawk  .... 
Grackle,  Boat-tailed 

Purple 
Grosbeak,  Blue  .     . 

Evening 

Pine  .     . 

Rose-breasted 
Gyrfalcon  .... 


Hawk,  Broad-winged 
Cooper's    . 
Duck     .    . 
Harris's 
Marsh    .     . 
Pigeon    .     . 
Red-shouldered 
Red  tailed  .     . 
Rough-legged 
Sharp-shinned 
Short-tailed    . 
Sparrow     .     . 

Humming  Bird  .     .    . 


Jay,  Blue 
Canada 


Pack 

42s 

4«3 
421 

410 

424 

426 

170 

353 
348 

31 
114 

"5 

371 
367 
375 
369 
7 

49 

34 

9 

46 

5» 
II 

43 
46 

4« 

35 

50 

13 

457 

133 
'38 


xn 


CONTENTS. 


Jay,  Florida  .    ,    . 
Juncu,  Slate-colored 


It 


Kingbird 

Gray  .  . 
Kingfisher  .... 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned 

Ruby-crowned 

Kite,  Everglade      .     . 

Mississippi    .     . 

Swallow-tailed  . 

White-tailed  .    . 


Lapland  Longspur 
Lark,  Horned     .     . 
Meadow  .     . 


Martin,  Purple    .    . 
Maryland  Yellow-throat 
Mocking  Bird     .     .    . 


Page 
'37 
339 


NiGHTHAWK        ... 

Nuthatch,  Brown-headed 
Red-breasted 
White-breasted 

Oriole,  Baltimore 
Orchard  . 
Osprey      .     . 
Oven  Bird     . 
Owl,  Barn 

".arred  . 

Burrowing     . 

Great  Gray    . 

Great  Horned 

Hawk    .     .     . 

Long-eared 

Richardson's 

Saw-whet  .     . 

Screech     .     . 

Short-rared    . 

Snowv  •     .     . 


Paroquet,  Carolina 
Pewee,  Wood     .     . 

Phoebe 

Pipit      .     .     .     .     . 


404 
414 
461 

283 
281 
40 
37 
39 
38 

304 
294 

79 

39" 
249 

187 

470 
386 

385 
383 

83 
93 
27 

2'5 

75 
70 

78 
64 
61 

S3 
66 

73 
72 
57 
68 

55 


428 
419 

415 
29? 


Raven 
Redpoll 

Redstart 
Robin 


Hoary 


Sapsucker    .... 

Shrike,  Loggerhead    . 

Northern   .     . 

Siskin,  Pine  .... 

Skylark 

Snowflake      .... 
Sparrow,  Acadian  Shary 

Bachman's  . 

Chipping     . 

Field  .     .     . 

Fox     .     .     . 

Grasshopper 

Ilenslow's   . 

Housp     .     , 

Ipswich  .     . 

Lark  .    .    . 

Le  Conte's  . 

Lincoln's     . 

Nelson's 

Savanna 

Seasivle  ,     . 

Sharp-tailed 

Song  .     .     . 

Swamp   .    . 

Tree   .    .    . 

Vesper    .    . 

White-crowned 

White-throated 
Swallow,  Bank  .     .     . 

Barn   .    .    , 

Cliff    .     .    . 

Rough-winged 

Tree    .    .    . 
Swift,  Chimney  .    .    . 


Pagb 
J  20 

355 

358 
164 

198 


tailed 


Tanager,  Scarlet  .  . 
Summer     . 

Thrasher,  Brown    .     . 

Thrush,  Bicknell's .  . 
Gray-cheeked 
Hermit      .     . 


450 

162 

J  59 

351 
297 

300 

345 
327 
333 
336 
338 
329 
330 
354 
326 

3'7 

331 
328 

34ti 
325 
346 

344 
322 

342 

332 
320 

3'S 
318 
401 

394 
396 
403 
399 
463 

306 

309 
192 

212 
211 
20$ 


CONTENTS. 


xiri 


Thrush,  Louisiana  Water 
Olive-backed 
Water  .... 
Wilson's  .     .     . 
Wood  .         .     . 

Titmouse,  Tufteci  .    .     . 

Towhee 


ViREO,  Blue-headed    .    . 

Philadelphia  .     . 

Red-eyed        .     . 

Warbling   .     .     , 

White-eyed     .     . 

Yellow-throated 
Vulture,  Black  .     .    .    . 
Turkey     .    .    , 


A^ARBLER,  Bachman's  .  . 
Bay-breasted 
Black  and  white 
Blackburnian  . 
Black-poll  .  . 
Black-throated  Bl 
Black-throated 

Green  .  . 
Blue-winged  . 
Canadian  .  . 
Cape  May  . 
Cerulean  .  . 
Chestnut-sided 
Connecticut  . 
Golden-winged 
Hooded  .  . 
Kentucky .  . 
Kirtland's     . 


Pagb 
214 
211 

212 
207 
202 
'42 

359 
176 

186 
182 
180 

178 

»74 
4 
I 


.  261 

•  237 

.389 

.  232 

.  238 

ue  245 

•  230 
.  258 
.  227 
.  226 

•  247 

•  235 

•  253 
.  260 

.  167 
.  246 
.  265 


Warbler,    Magnolia  .    .    . 

Mournihg      .    . 

Myrtle  .... 

Nashville .     .    . 

Orange-crowned 

Parula  .... 

Pine      .    .     .    . 

Prairie      .     .     . 

Prothonotary     . 

Swainson's    .    . 

Tennessee     .     . 

Wilson's  .    .    . 

Worm-eating     . 

Yellow      .     .    . 

Yellow  Palm     . 

Yellow-throated 

Waxwing,  Bohemian       .    . 

Cedar    .... 

Wheatear 

Whip-poor-will 


Woodpecker,    American  three- 


toed 


Arctic  three-toed  455 


Downy 

Hairy    .     .     . 

Ivory-billed   . 

Pileated     .    . 

Red-bellied    . 

Red-cockaded 

Red-headed   . 

Wren,  Bewick's      .... 

Carolina      .... 

House 

Long-billed  Marsh  . 
Short-billed  Marsh  . 
Winter  ..... 


Pack 
224 

25» 

217 

263 
264 
244 

239 
242 

257 
256 
261 
168 

255 
2ao 
219 
228 

152 
»54 
290 
467 


456 


452 

451 
441 

444 
448 

454 
446 
276 
272 

279 
277 

270 


t 
t 
t 

ii 

y 
ij 

b 
n 

g 
r< 

rr 

re 

t3 
SI 

th 
h( 

lii 
H 

ar 

ar 

b( 

le 

of 


INTRODUCTION. 


Of  all  the  classes  of  animals  by  which  we  are  surrounded  in 
the  ample  field  of  Nature,  there  are  none  more  remarkable  in 
their  appearance  and  habits  th^n  the  feathered  inhabitants  of 
the  air.  They  play  around  us  like  fairy  spirits,  elude  approach 
in  an  element  which  defies  our  pursuit,  soar  out  of  sight  in  the 
yielding  sky,  journey  over  our  heads  in  marshalled  ranks,  dart 
like  meteors  in  the  sunshine  of  summer,  or,  seeking  the  solitary 
recesses  of  the  forest  and  the  waters,  they  glide  before  us  like 
beings  of  fancy.  They  diversify  the  still  landscape  with  the 
most  lively  motion  and  beautiful  association ;  they  come  and 
go  with  the  change  of  the  season  ;  and  as  their  actions  are  di- 
rected by  an  uncontrollable  instinct  of  provident  Nature,  tiicy 
may  be  considered  as  concomitant  with  the  beauty  of  the  sur- 
rounding scene.  With  what  grateful  sensations  do  we  involun- 
tarily hail  the  arrival  of  these  faithful  messengers  of  spring  and 
summer,  after  the  lapse  of  the  dreary  winter,  which  compelled 
them  to  forsake  us  for  more  favored  climes.  Their  songs,  now 
heard  from  the  leafy  groves  and  shadowy  forests,  inspire  de- 
light, or  recollections  of  the  pleasing  past,  in  every  breast. 
How  volatile,  how  playfully  capricious,  how  musical  and  happy, 
are  these  roving  sylphs  of  Nature,  lo  whom  the  air,  the  earth, 
and  the  waters  are  alike  habitable  !  Their  lives  are  spent  in 
boundless  action ;  and  Nature,  with  an  omniscient  benevo- 
lence, has  assisted  and  formed  them  for  this  wonderful  display 
of  perpetual  life  and  vigor,  in  an  element  almost  their  own. 


XVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


}*! 


If  we  draw  a  comparison  between  these  inhabitants  of  the 
air  and  the  earth,  we  shall  perceive  that,  instead  of  the  large 
head,  formidable  jaws  armed  with  teeth,  the  capacious  chest, 
wide  shoulders,  and  muscular  legs  of  the  quadrupeds,  they 
have  bills,  or  pointed  jaws  destitute  of  teeth ;  a  long  and  pliant 
neck,  gently  swelling  shoulders,  immovable  vertebrae ;  the  fore- 
arm attenuated  to  a  point  and  clothed  with  feathers,  forming 
the  expansive  wing,  and  thus  fitted  for  a  different  species  of 
motion ;  likewise  the  wide  extended  tail,  to  assist  the  general 
provision  for  buoyancy  throughout  the  whole  anatomical  frame. 
For  the  same  general  purpose  of  lightness,  exists  the  contrast 
of  slender  bony  legs  and  feet.  So  that,  in  short,  we  perceive 
in  the  whole  conformation  of  this  interesting  tribe,  a  structure 
wisely  and  curiously  adapted  for  their  destined  motion  through 
the  air.  Lightness  and  buoyancy  appear  in  every  part  of  the 
structure  of  birds :  to  this  end  nothing  contributes  more  than 
the  soft  and  delicate  plumage  with  which  they  are  so  warmly 
clad ;  and  though  the  wings  (or  great  organs  of  aerial  motion 
by  which  they  swim,  as  it  were,  in  the  atmosphere)  are  formed 
of  such  light  materials,  yet  the  force  with  which  they  strike  the 
air  is  so  great  as  to  impel  their  bodies  with  a  rapidity  unknown 
to  the  swiftest  quadruped.  The  same  grand  intention  of  form- 
ing a  class  of  animals  to  move  in  the  ambient  desert  they 
occupy  above  the  earth,  is  likewise  visible  in  their  internal 
structure.  Their  bones  are  light  and  thin,  and  all  the  muscles 
diminutive  but  those  appropriated  for  moving  the  wings.  The 
lungs  are  placed  near  to  the  back-bone  and  ribs ;  and  the  air 
is  not,  as  in  other  animals,  merely  confined  to  the  pulmonary 
organs,  but  passes  through,  and  is  then  conveyed  into  a  num- 
ber of  membranous  cells  on  either  side  the  external  region  of 
the  heart,  communicating  with  others  situated  beneath  the 
chest.  In  some  birds  these  cells  are  continued  down  the 
wings,  extending  even  to  the  pinions,  bones  of  the  thighs,  and 
other  parts  of  the  body,  which  can  be  distended  with  air  at 
the  pleasure  or  necessity  of  the  animal.  This  diffusion  of  air 
is  not  only  intended  to  assist  in  lightening  and  elevating  the 
body,  but  also  appears  necessary  to  prevent  the  stoppage  or 


INTRODUCTION. 


XVII 


interruption  of  respiration,  which  would  otherwise  follow  th^ 
rapidity  of  their  motion  through  the  resisting  atmosphere  ;  and 
thus  the  Ostrich,  though  deprived  of  the  power  of  flight,  runs 
almost  with  the  swiftness  of  the  wind,  and  requires,  as  he 
possesses,  the  usual  resources  of  air  conferred  on  other  birds. 
Were  it  possible  for  man  to  move  with  the  rapidity  of  a  Swal- 
low, the  resistance  of  the  air,  without  some  such  peculiar  pro- 
vision as  in  birds,  would  quickly  bring  on  suffocation.  The 
superior  vital  heat  of  this  class  of  beings  is  likewi&e  probably 
due  to  this  greater  aeration  of  the  vital  fluid. 

Birds,  as  well  as  quadrupeds,  may  be  generally  distinguished 
into  two  great  classes  from  the  food  on  which  they  are  destined 
to  subsist ;  and  may,  consequently,  be  termed  carnivorous  and 
granivorous.  Some  also  hold  a  middle  nature,  or  partake  of 
both.  The  granivorous  and  herbivorous  birds  are  provided 
with  larger  and  longer  intestines  than  those  of  the  carnivorous 
kinds.  Their  food,  consisting  chiefly  of  grain  of  various  sorts, 
is  conveyed  whole  into  the  craw  or  first  stomach,  where  it  is 
softened  and  acted  upon  by  a  peculiar  glandular  secretion 
thrown  out  upon  its  surface ;  it  is  then  again  conveyed  into  a 
second  preparatory  digestive  organ ;  and  finally  transmitted 
into  the  true  stomach,  or  gizzard,  formed  of  two  strong  muscles 
connected  externally  with  a  tendinous  substance,  and  lined  in- 
ternally with  a  thick  membrane  of  great  power  and  strength ; 
and  in  this  place  the  unmasticated  food  is  at  length  completely 
triturated,  and  prepared  for  the  operation  of  the  gastric  juice. 
The  extraordinary  powers  of  the  gizzard  in  comminuting  food, 
to  prepare  it  for  digestion,  almost  exceeds  the  bounds  o*"  cred- 
ibility. Turkeys  and  common  fowls  have  been  made  to  swal- 
low sharp  angular  fragments  of  glass,  metallic  tubes,  and  balls 
armed  with  needles,  and  even  lancets,  which  were  found 
broken  and  compressed,  without  producing  any  a\  i)arent  pain 
or  wounds  in  the  stomach.  The  gravel  pebbles  swallowed  by 
this  class  of  birds  with  so  much  avidity,  thus  appear  useful  in 
bruising  and  comminuting  the  grain  they  feed  on,  and  prepar- 
ing it  for  the  solvent  action  of  the  digestive  organs. 

Those  birds  which  live  chiefly  on  grain  and  vegetable  sub- 

VOL.  1.  —  /; 


XVI 11 


INTRODUCTION. 


n!     t 


Stances  partake  in  a  degree  of  the  nature  and  disposition  of 
herbivorous  quadrupeds.  In  both,  the  food  ar*d  the  provision 
for  its  digestion  are  very  similar.  Alike  distinguished  for 
sedentary  habits  and  gentleness  of  manners,  their  lives  are 
harmlessly  and  usefully  passed  in  collecting  seeds  and  fruits, 
and  ridding  the  earth  of  noxious  and  destructive  insects ;  they 
live  wholly  on  the  defensive  with  all  the  feathered  race,  and 
are  content  to  rear  and  defend  their  offspring  from  the  attacks 
of  their  enemies.  It  is  from  this  tractable  and  gentle  race,  as 
well  as  from  the  amphibious  or  aquatic  tribes,  that  mun  has 
long  succeeded  in  obtaining  useful  and  domestic  species, 
which,  from  their  prolificacy  and  hardihood,  afford  a  vast 
supply  of  wholesome  and  nutritious  food.  Of  these,  the  Hen, 
originally  from  India;  the  Goose,  Duck,  and  Pigeon  of 
Europe ;  the  Turkey  of  America ;  and  the  Pintado,  or  Guinea- 
hen  of  Africa,  are  the  principal :  to  which  may  also  be  ad- 
ded, as  less  useful,  or  more  recently  naturalized,  the  Peacock 
of  India,  the  Pheasant  of  the  same  country,  the  Chinese 
and  Canada  Goose,  the  Muscovy  Duck,  and  the  European 
Swan. 

Carnivorous  birds  by  many  striking  traits  evince  the  destiny 
for  which  they  have  been  created;  they  are  provided  with 
wings  of  great  length,  supported  by  powerful  nuscles,  which 
enable  them  to  fly  with  energy  and  soar  with  ease  at  the 
loftiest  elevations.  They  are  armed  with  strong  hooked  bills 
and  with  the  sharp  and  formidable  claws  of  the  tiger ;  they  are 
also  further  distinguished  by  their  large  heads,  short  necks, 
strong  muscular  thighs  in  aid  of  their  retractile  talons,  and 
a  sight  so  piercing  as  to  enable  them,  while  soaring  at  the 
greatest  height,  to  perceive  their  prey,  upon  which  they  some- 
times descend,  like  an  arrow,  with  undeviating  aim.  In  these 
birds  the  stomach  is  smaller  than  in  the  granivorous  kinds,  and 
their  intestines  are  shorter.  Like  beasts  of  prey,  they  are  of  a 
fierce  and  unsociable  nature ;  and  so  far  from  herding  together 
like  the  inoffensive  tribes,  they  drive  even  their  offspring  from 
the  eyry,  and  seek  habitually  the  shelter  of  desert  rocks,  ne- 
glected ruins,  or  the  solitude  of  the  darkest  forest,  from  whence 


INTRODUCTION. 


XIX 


lliey  utter  loud,  terrific,  or  piercing  cries,  in  accordance  with 
the  gloomy  rage  and  inquietude  of  their  insatiable  desires. 

Besides  these  grand  divisions  of  the  winged  nations,  there 
are  others,  which,  in  their  habits  and  manners,  might  be  com- 
pared to  the  amphibious  animals,  as  they  live  chiefly  on  the 
water,  anu  feed  on  its  productions.  To  enable  them  to  swim 
and  dive  in  quest  of  their  aquatic  food,  their  toes  are  con- 
nected by  broad  membranes  or  webs,  with  which,  like  oars, 
they  strike  the  water,  and  are  impelled  with  force.  In  this  way 
even  the  seas,  lakes,  and  rivers,  abounding  with  fish,  insects, 
and  seeds,  swarm  with  birds  of  various  kinds,  which  all  obtain 
an  abundant  supply.  There  are  other  aquatic  birds,  frequent- 
ing marshes  and  the  margins  of  lakes,  rivers,  and  the  sea, 
which  seem  to  partake  of  an  intermediate  nature  between  the 
land  and  water  tribes.  Some  of  these  feed  on  fishes  and  rep- 
tiles ;  others,  wifh  long  and  sensible  bills  and  extended  necks, 
seek  their  food  in  wet  and  muddy  marshes.  These  birds  are 
not  made  for  swimming ;  but,  familiar  with  water,  they  wade, 
and  many  follow  the  edge  of  the  retiring  waves  of  the  sea, 
gleaning  their  insect  prey  at  the  recession  of  the  tides :  for 
this  kind  of  life  Nature  has  provided  them  with  long  legs,  bare 
of  feathers  even  above  the  knees ;  their  toes,  unconnected  by 
webs,  are  only  partially  furnished  with  membranous  appen- 
dages, just  sufficient  to  support  them  on  the  soft  and  boggy 
grounds  they  frequent.  To  this  tribe  belong  the  Cranes,  Snipes, 
Sandpipers,  Woodcocks,  and  many  others. 

In  comparing  the  senses  of  animals  in  connection  with  their 
instinct,  we  find  that  of  sight  to  be  more  extended,  more  acute, 
and  more  distinct  in  birds,  in  general,  than  in  quadrupeds.  I 
say  "in  general,"  for  there  are  some  birds,  such  as  the  Owls, 
whose  vision  is  less  clear  than  that  of  quadrupeds ;  but  this 
rather  results  from  the  extreme  sensibility  of  the  eye,  which, 
though  dazzled  with  the  glare  of  full  day,  nicely  distinguishes 
even  small  objects  by  the  aid  of  twilight.  In  all  birds  the 
organ  of  sight  is  ftirnished  with  two  membranes,  —  an  external 
and  internal,  —  additional  to  those  which  occur  in  the  human 
subject.     The  former,  membrana  nic titans,  or  external  mem- 


XX 


INTRODUCTION. 


I    i 


I  i 


brane,  is  situated  in  the  larger  angle  of  the  eye,  and  is,  in 
fact,  a  second  and  more  transparent  eyelid,  whose  motions  are 
directed  at  pleasure,  and  its  use,  besides  occasionally  cleaning 
and  polishing  the  cornea,  is  to  temper  the  excess  of  light  and 
adjust  the  quantity  admitted  to  the  extreme  delicacy  of  the 
organ.  The  other  membrane,  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the 
eye,  appears  to  be  an  expansion  of  the  optic  nerve,  which,  re- 
ceiving more  immediately  the  impressions  of  the  light,  must  !<e 
much  more  sensible  than  in  other  animals ;  and  consequently 
the  sight  is  in  birds  far  more  perfect,  and  embraces  a  ./ider 
range.  Facts  and  observations  bear  out  this  ronclusioii ;  for  a 
Sparrow-hawk,  while  hovering  in  the  air,  perceives  a  Lark  or 
other  small  bird,  sitting  on  the  ground,  at  twenty  times  the  dis- 
tance that  such  an  object  would  be  visible  to  a  man  or  dog. 
A  Kite,  which  soars  beyond  the  reach  of  human  vision,  yet 
distinguishes  a  lizard,  field-mouse,  or  bird,  and  from  this  lofty 
station  selects  the  tiny  object  of  his  prey,  descending  upon  it 
in  nearly  a  perpendicular  line.  But  it  may  also  be  added  that 
this  prodigious  extent  of  vision  is  hkewise  accompanied  with 
equal  accuracy  and  clearness ;  for  the  eye  can  dilate  or  con- 
tract, be  shaded  or  exposed,  depressect  or  made  protuberant, 
so  as  readily  to  assume  the  precise  fo'm  suited  to  the  degree 
of  light  and  the  distance  of  the  object ;  the  organ  thus  answer- 
ing, as  it  were,  the  purpose  of  a  self-adjusting  telescope,  with  a 
shade  for  examining  the  most  luminous  and  dazzling  objects ; 
and  hence  the  Eagle  is  often  seen  to  ascend  to  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  gazinf  on  the  unclouded  sun  as  on 
an  ordinary  and  familiar  object. 

The  rapid  motions  executed  by  birds  have  also  a  reference 
to  the  perfection  of  their  vision  •  for  if  Nature,  while  she  en- 
dov/ed  them  with  great  agility  and  vast  muscular  strength,  had 
left  them  as  short-sighted  as  ourselves,  their  latent  powers 
would  have  availed  them  nothing,  and  the  dangers  of  a  per- 
petually impeded  progress  would  have  repressed  or  extin- 
guished their  ardor.  We  may  then,  in  general,  cons'.der  the 
celerity  with  which  an  animal  moves,  as  a  just  indication  of 
the  perfection  of  its  vision.     A  bird,  therefore,  shooting  swiftly 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXI 


through  the  air,  must  undoubtedly  see  better  than  one  which 
slowly  describes  a  waving  tract.  The  weak-sighted  bat,  flying 
carefully  through  bars  of  willow,  even  when  the  eyes  were  ex- 
tinguished, may  seem  to  suggest  an  exception  to  this  rule  of 
relative  velocity  and  vision ;  but  in  this  case,  as  in  that  of  some 
blind  individuals  of  the  human  species,  the  exquisite  auditory 
apparatus  seems  capable  of  supplying  the  defect  of  sight.  Nor 
are  the  flickerings  of  the  bat,  constantly  performed  in  a  narrow 
circuit,  at  all  to  be  compared  to  the  distant  and  lofty  soarings 
of  the  Eag'.e,  or  the  wide  wanderings  of  the  smaller  birds,  who 
often  annually  pass  and  repass  from  the  arctic  circle  to  the 
equator. 

The  idea  of  motion,  and  all  the  other  ideas  connected  with 
it,  such  as  those  of  relative  velocities,  extent  of  country,  the 
proportional  height  of  eminences,  and  of  the  various  inequali- 
ties that  prevail  on  the  surface,  are  therefore  more  precise  in 
birds,  and  occupy  a  larger  share  of  their  conceptions,  than  in 
the  grovelling  quadrupeds.  Nature  would  seem  to  have  pointed 
out  this  superiority  of  vision,  by  the  more  conspicuous  and 
elaborate  stmcture  of  its  organ ;  for  in  birds  the  eye  is  larger  in 
proportion  to  the  bulk  of  the  head  than  in  quadri'.peds ;  it  is 
also  more  delicate  and  finely  fashioned,  and  the  impressions  it 
receives  must  consequently  excite  more  vivid  ideas. 

Another  cause  of  difference  in  the  instincts  of  birds  and 
quadrupeds  is  the  nature  of  the  element  in  which  they  live. 
Birds  know  better  than  man  the  degrees  of  resistance  in  the 
air,  its  temperature  at  different  heights,  its  relative  density,  and 
many  other  particulars,  probably,  of  which  we  can  form  no 
adequate  conception.  They  foresee  more  than  we,  and  indi- 
cate better  than  our  weather-glasses,  the  changes  which  happen 
in  that  voluble  fluid ;  for  often  have  they  contended  with  the 
violence  of  the  wind,  and  still  oflener  have  they  borrowed  the 
advantage  of  its  aid.  The  Eagle,  soaring  above  the  clouds,  can 
at  will  escape  the  scene  of  the  storm,  and  in  the  lofty  region  of 
calm,  far  within  the  aerial  boundary  of  eternal  frost,^  enjoy  a 

1  The  mean  heights  of  eternal  frost  under  the  equator  and  at  the  latitude  of 
30''  and  60°  are,  respectively,  15,207,  11,484,  and  3,818  feet. 


XXll 


INTRODUCTION. 


serene  sky  and  a  bright  sun,  while  the  terrestrial  animals  re- 
tnain  involved  in  darkness  and  exposed  to  all  the  fury  of  the 
tempest.  In  twenty-four  hours  it  can  change  its  climate,  and 
sailing  over  d  liferent  countries,  it  will  form  a  picture  exceeding 
the  powers  of  thr  r^- — '1  or  the  imagination.  The  quadruped 
knows  only  the  s  .  wnere  it  feeds,  —  its  valley,  mountain,  or 
plain ;  it  has  no  conception  of  the  expanse  of  surface  or  of 
remote  distances,  and  generally  no  desire  to  push  forward  its 
excursions  beyond  the  bounds  of  its  immediate  wants.  Hence 
remote  journeys  and  extensive  migrations  are  as  rare  among 
quadrupeds  as  they  are  frequent  among  birds.  It  is  this 
desire,  founded  on  their  acquaintance  with  foreign  countries, 
on  the  consciousness  of  their  expeditious  course,  and  on  their 
foresight  of  the  changes  that  will  happen  in  the  atmosphere, 
and  the  revolutions  of  seasons,  that  prompts  them  to  retire 
together  at  the  powerful  suggestions  of  an  unerring  instinct. 
When  their  food  begins  to  fail,  or  the  cold  and  heat  to  incom- 
mode them,  their  innate  feelings  and  latent  powers  urge  them 
to  seek  the  necessary  remedy  for  the  evils  that  threaten  their 
being.  The  inquietude  of  the  old  is  communicated  to  the 
young;  and  collecting  in  troops  by  common  consent,  influ- 
enced by  the  same  general  wants,  impressed  with  the  approach- 
ing changes  in  the  circumstances  of  their  existence,  they  give 
way  to  the  strong  reveries  of  instinct,  and  wing  their  way  over 
land  and  sea  to  some  distant  and  better  country. 

Comparing  animals  with  each  other,  we  soon  perceive  that 
smelly  in  general,  is  much  more  acute  among  the  quadrupeds 
than  the  birds.  Even  the  pretended  scent  of  the  Vulture  is 
imaginary,  as  he  does  not  perceive  the  tainted  carrion,  on 
which  he  feeds,  through  a  wicker  basket,  though  its  odor  is  as 
potent  as  in  the  open  air.  This  choice  also  of  decaying  flesh 
is  probably  regulated  by  his  necessities  and  the  deficiency  of 
his  muscular  powers  to  attack  a  living,  or  even  tear  in  pieces  a 
recent,  prey.  The  structure  of  the  olfactory  organ  in  birds  is 
obviously  inferior  to  that  of  quadrupeds ;  the  external  nostrils 
are  wanting,  and  those  odors  which  might  excite  sensation 
have  access  only  to  the  duct  leading  from  the  palate ;  and  even 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXllI 


animals  re- 
fury  of  the 
limate,  and 
;  exceeding 

quadruped 
lountain,  or 
irface  or  of 

forward  its 
its.     Hence 
rare  among 
It  is  this 
n  countries, 
ind  on  their 
atmosphere, 
;m  to  retire 
ing  instinct, 
at  to  incom- 
•s  urge  them 
ireaten  their 
ated  to  the 
tisent,  influ- 

e  approach- 

e,  they  give 
eir  way  over 

)erceive  that 
quadrupeds 


in  those,  where  the  organ  is  disclosed,  the  nerves,  which  take 
their  origin  from  it,  are  far  from  being  so  numerous,  so  large, 
or  so  expanded  as  in  the  quadrupeds.  We  may  therefore 
regard  touch  in  man,  smell  in  the  quadruped,  and  sight  in 
birds,  as  respectively  the  three  most  perfect  senses  which 
exercise  a  general  influence  on  the  character. 

After  sight,  the  most  perfect  of  the  senses  in  birds  appears 
to  be  hearings  which  is  even  superior  to  that  of  the  quadru- 
peds, and  scarcely  exceeded  in  the  human  species.  We  per- 
ceive with  what  facility  they  retain  and  repeat  tones,  successions 
of  notes,  and  even  words;  we  delight  to  listen  to  their  un- 
wearied songs,  to  the  incessant  warbling  of  their  tuneful  affec- 
tion. Their  ear  and  throat  are  more  ductile  and  powerful 
than  in  other  animals,  and  their  voice  more  capacious  and 
generally  agreeable.  A  Crow,  which  is  scarcely  more  than  the 
thousandth  part  the  size  of  an  ox,  may  be  heard  as  far,  or 
farther ;  the  Nightingale  can  fill  a  wider  space  with  its  music 
than  the  human  voice.  This  prodigious  extent  and  power  of 
sound  depend  entirely  on  the  structure  of  their  organs;  but 
the  support  and  continuance  of  their  song  result  solely  from 
their  internal  emotions. 

The  windpipe  is  wider  and  stronger  in  birds  than  in  any 
other  class  of  animals,  and  usually  terminates  below  in  a  large 
cavity  that  augments  the  sound.  The  lungs  too  have  greater 
extent,  and  communicate  with  internal  cavities  which  are 
capable  of  being  expanded  with  air,  and,  besides  lightening 
the  body,  give  additional  strength  to  the  voice.  Indeed,  the 
formation  of  the  thorax,  the  lungs,  and  all  the  organs  connected 
with  these,  seems  expressly  calculated  to  give  force  and  dura- 
tion to  their  utterance. 

Another  circumstance,  showing  the  great  power  of  voice  in 
birds,  is  the  distance  at  which  they  are  audible  in  the  higher 
regions  of  the  atmosphere.  An  Eagle  may  rise  at  least  to  the 
height  of  seventeen  tbo'isand  feet,  for  it  is  there  just  visible. 
Flocks  of  Storks  and  Geese  may  mount  still  higher,  since,  not- 
withstanding the  space  they  occupy,  they  soar  almost  out  of 
sight;  t'^eir  cry  will  therefore  be  heard  from  an  altitude  of 


XXIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


more  than  three  miles,  and  is  at  least  four  times  as  powerful  as 
the  voice  of  men  and  quadnipeds. 

Sweetness  of  voice  and  melody  of  song  are  qualities  which  in 
birds  are  partly  natural  and  partly  acquired.  The  facility  with 
which  they  catch  and  repeat  sounds,  enables  them  not  only  to 
borrow  from  each  other,  but  often  even  to  copy  the  more  diffi- 
cult inflections  and  tones  of  the  human  voice,  as  well  as  of 
musical  instruments.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  tropical 
regions,  where  the  birds  are  arrayed  in  the  most  glowing 
colors,  their  voices  are  hoarse,  grating,  singular,  or  terrific. 
Our  sylvan  Orpheus  (the  Mocking-bird),  the  Brown  Thrush, 
the  Warbling  Flycatcher,  as  well  as  the  Linnet,  the  Thrush, 
the  Blackbird,  and  the  Nightingale  of  Europe,  pre-eminent  for 
song,  are  all  of  the  plainest  colors  and  weakest  tints. 

The  natural  tones  of  birds,  setting  aside  those  derived  from 
education,  express  the  various  modifications  of  their  wants  and 
passions ;  they  change  even  according  to  different  times  and 
circumstances.  The  females  are  much  more  silent  than  the 
males ;  they  have  cries  of  pain  or  fear,  murmurs  of  inquietude 
or  solicitude,  especially  for  their  young ;  but  of  song  they  are 
generally  deprived.  The  song  of  the  male  is  inspired  by  ten- 
der emotion,  he  chants  his  affectionate  lay  with  a  sonorous 
voice,  and  the  female  replies  in  feeble  accents.  The  Nightin- 
gale, when  he  first  arrives  in  the  spring,  without  his  mate,  is 
silent ;  he  begins  his  lay  in  low,  faltering,  and  unfrequent  airs ; 
and  it  is  not  until  his  consort  sits  on  her  eggs  that  his  en- 
chanting melody  is  complete :  he  then  tries  to  relieve  and 
amuse  her  tedious  hours  of  incubation,  and  warbles  more 
pathetically  and  variably  his  amorous  and  soothing  lay.  In  a 
state  of  nature  this  propensity  for  song  only  continues  through 
the  breeding  season,  for  after  that  period  it  either  entirely 
ceases,  becomes  enfeebled,  or  loses  its  sweetness. 

Conjugal  fidelity  and  parental  affection  are  among  the  most 
conspicuous  traits  of  the  feathered  tribes.  The  pair  unite  their 
labors  in  preparing  for  the  accommodation  of  their  expected 
progeny ;  and  during  the  time  of  incubation  their  participa- 
tion of  the  same  cares  and  solicitudes  continually  augments 


■piiipi 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXV 


IS  powerful  as 


their  mutual  attachment.  When  the  young  appear,  a  new 
source  of  care  and  pleasure  opens  to  them,  still  strengthening 
the  ties  of  affection ;  and  the  tender  charge  of  rearing  and 
defending  their  infant  brood  requires  the  joint  attention  of 
both  parents.  The  warmth  of  first  affection  is  thus  succeeded 
by  calm  and  steady  attachment,  which  by  degrees  extends, 
without  suffering  any  diminution,  to  the  rising  branches  of  the 
family. 

This  conjugal  union,  in  the  rapacious  tribe  of  birds,  the 
Eagles  and  Hawks,  as  well  as  with  the  Ravens  and  Crows,  con- 
tinues commonly  through  life.  Among  many  other  kinds  it  is 
also  of  long  endurance,  as  we  may  perceive  in  our  common 
Pewee  and  the  Blue-bird,  who  year  after  y^ar  continue  to  fre- 
quent and  build  in  the  same  cave,  box,  or  hole  in  the  decayed 
orchard  tree.  But,  in  general,  this  association  of  the  sexes 
expires  with  the  season,  after  it  has  completed  the  intentions 
of  reproduction,  in  the  preservation  and  rearing  of  the  off- 
spring. The  appearance  even  of  sexual  distinction  often  van- 
ishes in  the  autumn,  when  both  the  parents  and  their  young 
are  then  seen  in  the  same  humble  and  oblivious  dress.  When 
they  arrive  again  amongst  us  in  the  spring,  the  males  in  flocks, 
often  by  themselves,  are  clad  anew  in  their  nuptial  livery ;  and 
with  vigorous  songs,  after  the  cheerless  silence  in  which  they 
have  passed  the  winter,  they  now  seek  out  their  mates,  and 
warmly  contest  the  right  to  their  exclusive  favor. 

With  regard  to  food,  birds  have  a  more  ample  latitude  than 
quadrupeds ;  flesh,  fish,  amphibia,  reptiles,  insects,  fruits,  grain, 
seeds,  roots,  herbs,  —  in  a  word,  whatever  lives  or  vegetates. 
Nor  are  they  very  select  in  their  choice,  but  often  catch  indif- 
ferently at  what  they  can  most  easily  obtain.  Their  sense  of 
taste  appears  indeed  much  less  acute  than  in  quadmpeds ;  for 
if  we  except  such  as  are  carnivorous,  their  tongue  and  pala  'e 
are,  in  general,  hard,  and  almost  cartilaginous.  Sight  and  scent 
can  only  direct  them,  though  they  possess  the  latter  in  an  infe- 
rior degree.  The  greater  number  swallow  without  tasting ;  and 
mastication,  which  constitutes  the  chief  pleasure  in  eating,  is 
entirely  wanting  to  them.     As  their  homy  jaws  are  unprovided 


fi 


I. 


XXVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


with  teeth,  the  food  undergoes  no  preparation  in  the  mouth, 
but  is  swallowed  in  unbruised  and  untasted  morsels.  Yet  there 
ij  reason  to  believe  that  the  first  action  of  the  stomach,  or  its 
preparatory  ventriculus^  affords  in  some  degree  the  ruminating 
gratification  of  taste,  as  after  swallowing  food,  in  some  insectiv- 
orous and  carnivorous  birds,  the  motion  of  the  mandibles,  ex- 
actly like  that  of  ordinary  tasting,  can  hardly  be  conceived  to 
exist  without  conveying  some  degree  of  gratifying  sensation. 

The  clothing  of  birds  varies  with  the  habits  and  climates 
they  inhabit.  The  aquatic  tribes,  and  those  which  live  in 
northern  regions,  are  provided  with  an  abundance  of  plumage 
and  fine  down,  —  from  which  circumstance  often  we  may  form  a 
correct  judgment  of  their  natal  regions.  In  all  climates,  aqua- 
tic birds  are  almost  equally  feathered,  and  are  provided  with 
posterior  glands  containing  an  oily  substance  for  anointing 
their  feathers,  which,  aided  b>  their  thickness,  prevents  the 
admission  of  moisture  to  their  bodies.  These  glands  are  less 
conspicuous  in  land  birds,  —  unless,  like  the  fishing  Eagles,  their 
habits  be  to  plunge  in  the  water  in  pursuit  of  their  prey. 

The  general  structure  of  feathers  seems  purposely  adapted 
both  for  warmth  of  clothing  and  security  of  flight.  In  the 
wings  of  all  birds  which  fly,  the  webs  composing  the  vanes,  or 
plumy  sides  of  the  feather,  mutually  interlock  by  means  of  reg- 
ular rows  of  slender,  hair-like  teeth,  so  that  the  feather,  except 
at  and  towards  its  base,  serves  as  a  complete  and  close  screen 
from  the  weather  on  the  one  hand,  and  as  an  impermeable  oar 
on  the  other,  when  situated  in  the  wing,  and  required  to  catch 
and  retain  the  impulse  of  the  air.  In  the  birds  which  do  not 
fly,  and  inhabit  warm  climates,  the  feathers  are  few  and  thin, 
and  their  lateral  webs  are  usually  separate,  as  in  the  Ostrich, 
Cassowary,  Emu,  and  extinct  Dodo.  In  some  cases  feathers 
seem  to  pass  into  the  hairs,  which  ordinarily  clothe  the  quadru- 
peds, as  in  the  Cassowary,  and  others ;  and  the  base  of  the 
bill  in  many  birds  is  usually  surrounded  with  these  capillary 
plumes. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  cast  their  feathers  annually,  and 
appear  to  suffer  much  more  from  it  than  the  quadrupeds  do 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXVll 


from  a  similar  change.  The  best-fed  fowl  ceases  at  this  time 
to  lay.  The  season  of  moulting  is  generally  the  end  of  summer 
or  autumn,  and  their  feathers  are  not  completely  restored  till 
the  spring.  The  male  sometimes  undergoes,  as  we  have  already 
remarked,  an  additional  moult  towards  the  close  o'*"  summer ; 
and  among  many  of  the  waders  and  web-footed  tribes,  as  Sand- 
pipers, Plovers,  and  Gulls,  both  sexes  experience  a  nioult  twice 
in  the  year,  so  that  their  summer  and  winter  livery  appears 
whollv  different. 


The  stratagems  and  contrivances  instinctively  employed  by 
birds  for  their  support  and  protection  are  peculiarly  remark- 
able j  in  this  way  those  which  are  weak  are  enabled  to  elude 
the  pursuit  of  the  strong  and  rapacious.  Some  are  even 
screened  from  the  attacks  of  their  enemies  by  an  arrangement 
of  colors  assimilated  to  the  places  which  they  most  frequent 
for  subsistence  and  repose  :  thus  the  Wryneck  is  scarcely  to  be 
distinguished  from  the  tree  on  which  it  seeks  its  food ;  or  the 
Snipe  from  the  soft  and  springy  ground  which  it  frequents. 
The  Great  Plover  finds  its  chief  security  in  stony  places,  to 
which  its  colors  are  so  nicely  adapted  that  the  most  exact 
observer  may  be  deceived.  The  same  resort  is  taken  advantage 
of  by  the  Night  Hawk,  Partridge,  Plover,  and  the  American 
Quail,  the  young  brood  of  which  squat  on  the  ground,  instinc- 
tively conscious  of  being  neavly  invisible,  from  their  close 
resemblance  to  the  broken  ground  on  which  they  lie,  and  trust 
to  this  natural  concealment.  The  same  kind  of  deceptive  and 
protecting  artifice  is  often  employed  by  birds  to  conceal  or 
render  the  appearance  of  their  nests  ambiguous.  Thus  the 
European  Wren  forms  its  nest  externally  of  hay,  if  against 
a  hayrick;  cover'id  with  lichens,  if  the  tree  chosen  is  sj 
clad  ;  or  made  of  green  moss,  when  the  decayed  trunk  in  which 
it  is  built,  is  thus  covered  ;  and  then,  wholly  closing  it  above, 
leaves  only  a  concealed  entry  in  the  side.  Our  Humming- 
bird, by  external  patches  of  lichen,  gives  her  nest  the  appear- 
ance of  a  moss-grown  knot.  A  similar  artifice  is  employed  by 
our  Yellow-breasted  Flycatcher,  or  Vireo,  and  others.     The 


XXVlll 


INTRODUCTION. 


■  r 


Golden-crowned  Thrush  (Seiurus  aurocapillus)  makes  a  nest 
like  an  oven,  erecting  an  arch  over  it  so  perfectly  resem- 
bling the  tussuck  in  which  it  is  concealed  that  it  is  only  dis- 
coverable by  the  emotion  of  the  female  when  startled  from  its 
covert. 

The  Butcher-bird  is  said  to  draw  around  him  his  feathered 
victims  by  treacherously  imitating  their  notes.  The  Kingfisher 
of  Europe  is  believed  to  allure  his  prey  by  displaying  the 
brilliancy  of  his  colors  as  he  sits  near  some  sequestered  place 
on  the  margin  of  a  rivulet ;  the  fish,  attracted  by  the  splen- 
dor of  his  fluttering  and  expanded  wings,  are  detained  while 
the  wily  fisher  takes  an  unerring  aim.*  The  Erne,  and  our 
Bald  Eagle,  gain  a  great  part  of  their  subsistence  by  watching 
the  success  of  the  Fish  Hawk,  and  robbing  him  of  his  finny  prey 
as  soon  as  it  is  caught.  In  the  same  way  also  the  rapacious 
Burgomaster,  or  Glaucous  Gull  {Larus  giaucus),  of  the  North 
levies  his  tribute  of  food  from  all  the  smaller  species  of  his 
race,  who,  knowing  his  strength  and  ferocity,  are  seldom  inclines 
to  dispute  his  piratical  claims.  Several  species  of  Cuckoo,  and 
the  Cow  Troopial  of  America,  habitually  deposit  their  eggs  in 
the  nests  of  other  small  birds,  to  whose  deceived  affection  are 
committed  the  preservation  and  rearing  of  the  parasitic  and 
vagrant  brood.  The  instinctive  arts  of  birds  are  numerous ; 
but  treachery,  like  that  which  obtains  in  these  parasitic  species, 
is  among  the  rarest  expedients  of  nature  in  the  feathered 
tribes,  though  not  uncommon  among  some  insect  families. 

The  art  displayed  by  birds  in  the  construction  of  their  tem- 
porary habitations,  or  nests,  is  also  deserving  of  passing 
attention.  Among  the  Gallinaceous  tribe,  including  our  land 
domestic  species,  as  well  as  the  aquatic  and  wading  kinds, 
scarcely  any  attempt  at  a  nest  is  made.  The  birds  which  swarm 
along  the  sea-coast  often  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  bare  ground, 
sand,  or  slight  depressions  in  shelving  rocks ;  governed  alone 
by  grosser  wants,  their  mutual  attachment  is  feeble  or  nugatory, 
and  neither  art  nor  instinct  prompts  attention  to  the  construc- 

1  The  bright  feathers  of  this  bird  enter  often  successfully,  with  others,  into 
the  composition  of  the  most  attractive  artificial  flies  employed  by  anglers. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXIX 


tion  of  a  nest,  —  the  less  necessary,  indeed,  as  the  young  run  or 
take  to  the  water  as  soon  as  hatched,  and  early  release  them- 
selves from  parental  dependence.  The  habits  of  the  other  aqua- 
tic birds  are  not  very  dissimilar  to  these  ;  yet  it  is  singular  to 
remark  that  while  our  common  Geese  and  Ducks,  like  domestic 
Fowls,  have  no  permansnt  selective  attachment  for  their  mates, 
the  Canadian  Wild  Goose,  the  Eider  Duck,  and  some  others, 
are  constantly  and  faithfully  paired  through  the  season;  so 
that  this  neglect  of  accommodation  for  the  young  in  the  fabri- 
cation of  an  artificial  nest,  common  to  these  with  the  rest  of 
their  tribe,  has  less  connection  with  the  requisition  of  Tiutual 
aid  than  with  the  hardy  and  precocious  habits  of  these  unmusi- 
cal, coarse,  and  retiring  birds.  It  is  true  that  some  of  them 
show  considerable  address,  if  little  of  art,  in  providing  security 
for  their  young ;  in  this  way  some  of  the  Razor-bills  (including 
the  Common  Puffin)  do  not  trust  the  exposure  of  their  eggs, 
like  the  Gulls,  who  rather  rely  on  the  solitude  of  their  retreat, 
than  art  in  its  defence ;  but  with  considerable  labor  some  of 
the  Alcas  form  a  deep  burrow  for  the  security  of  their  brood. 

Birds  of  the  same  genus  differ  much  in  their  modes  of  nidi- 
fication.  Thus  the  Martin  makes  a  nest  within  a  rough-cast 
rampart  of  mud,  and  enters  by  a  flat  opening  in  the  upper 
edge.  The  Cliff  Swallow  of  Bonaparte  conceals  its  warm  and 
feathered  nest  in  a  receptacle  of  agglutinated  mud  resembling 
a  narrow-necked  purse  or  retort.  Another  species,  in  the 
Indian  seas,  forms  a  small  receptacle  for  its  young  entirely 
of  interlaced  gelatinous  fibres,  provided  by  the  mouth  and 
stomach ;  these  nests,  stuck  in  clusters  against  the  rocks,  are 
collected  by  the  Chinese,  and  boiled  and  ec*ten  in  soups  as 
the  rarest  delicacy.  The  Bank  Martin,  like  the  Kingfisher, 
burrows  deep  into  the  friable  banks  of  rivers  to  secure  a  de- 
pository for  its  scantily  feathered  nest.  The  Chimney  Swallow, 
originally  an  inhabitant  of  hollow  trees,  builds  in  empty  chim- 
neys a  bare  nest  of  agglutinated  twigs.  The  Woodpecker, 
Nuthatch,  Titmouse,  and  our  rural  Bluebird,  secure  their 
young  in  hollow  trees ;  and  the  first  often  gouge  and  dig 
through  the  solid  wood  with  the  success  and  industry  of  car- 


XXX 


INTRODUCTION. 


penters,  and  without  the  aid  of  any  other  chisel  than  their 
wedged  bills. 

But  the  most  consummate  ingenuity  of  ornithal  architecture 
is  displayed  by  the  smaller  and  more  social  tribes  of  birds,  who, 
in  proportion  to  their  natural  enemies,  foreseen  by  Nature,  are 
provided  with  the  means  of  instinctive  defence.  In  this  labor 
both  sexes  generally  unite,  and  are  sometimes  occupied  a  week 
or  more  in  completing  this  temporary  habitation  for  their 
young.  We  can  only  glance  at  a  few  examples,  chiefly  domes- 
tic ;  since  to  give  anything  like  a  general  view  of  this  subject 
of  the  architecture  employed  by  birds  would  far  exceed  the 
narrow  limits  we  prescribe.  And  here  we  may  remark  that, 
after  migration,  there  is  no  more  certain  display  of  the  reveries 
of  instinct  than  what  presides  over  this  interesting  and  neces- 
sary labor  of  the  species.  And  yet  so  nice  are  the  gradations 
betwixt  this  innate  propensity  and  the  dawnings  of  reason  that 
it  is  not  always  easy  to  decide  upon  the  characteristics  of 
one  as  distinct  from  the  other.  Pure  and  undeviating  in- 
stincts aie  perhaps  wholly  confined  to  the  invertebral  class  of 
animals. 

In  respect  to  the  habits  of  birds,  we  well  know  that,  like 
quadrupeds,  they  possess,  though  in  a  lower  degree,  the  capa- 
city for  a  certain  measure  of  what  may  be  termed  education, 
or  the  power  of  adding  to  their  stock  of  invariable  habits  the 
additional  traits  of  an  inferior  degree  of  reason.  Thus  in  those 
birds  who  have  discovered  (like  the  faithful  dog,  that  humble 
companion  of  man)  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  asso- 
ciating round  his  premises,  the  regularity  of  their  instinctive 
habits  gives  way,  in  a  measure,  to  improvable  conceptions.  In 
this  manner  our  Golden  Robin  {Icterus  Baltimore),  or  Fiery 
Hang  Bird,  originally  only  a  native  of  the  wilderness  and  the 
forest,  is  now  a  constant  summer  resident  in  the  vicinity  of 
villages  and  dwellings.  From  the  depending  boughs  of  our 
towering  elms,  and  other  spreading  trees,  like  the  Oriole  of 
Europe,  and  the  Cassican  of  tropical  America,  he  weaves  his 
pendulous  and  purse-like  nest  of  the  most  tenacious  and  dur- 
able materials  he  can  collect.     These"  naturally  consist  of  the 


.JteV 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXI 


Indian  hemp,  flax  of  the  silk-weed  {Asciepias  species),  and 
other  tough  and  fibrous  substances ;  but  w'th  a  ready  ingenuity 
he  discovers  that  real  flax  and  hemp,  as  well  as  thread,  cotton, 
yarn,  and  even  hanks  of  silk,  or  small  strings,  and  horse  and 
cow  hair,  are  excellent  substitutes  for  his  original  domestic  ma- 
terials; and  in  order  to  be  convenient  to  these  accidental 
resources,  —  a  matter  of  some  importance  in  so  tedious  a  labor, 
—  he  has  left  the  wild  woods  of  his  ancestry,  and  conscious  of 
the  security  of  his  lofty  and  nearly  inaccessible  mansion,  has 
taken  up  his  welcome  abode  in  the  precincts  of  our  habitations. 
The  same  motives  of  convenience  and  comfort  have  had  their 
apparent  influence  on  many  more  of  our  almost  domestic 
feathered  tribes ;  the  Bluebirds,  Wrens,  and  Swallows,  original 
inhabitants  of  the  woods,  are  now  no  less  familiar,  than  our 
Pigeons.  The  Catbird  often  leaves  his  native  solitary  thickets 
for  the  convenience  and  refuge  of  the  garden,  and  watch- 
ing, occasionally,  the  motions  of  the  tenant,  answers  to  hir, 
whistle  with  complacent  mimicry,  or  in  petulant  anger  scolds  ^: 
his  intrusion.  The  Common  Robin,  who  never  varies  his  simple 
and  coarse  architecture,  tormented  by  the  parasitic  Cuckoo 
or  the  noisy  Jay,  who  seek  at  times  to  rob  him  of  his  progeny, 
for  protection  has  been  known  fearlessly  to  build  his  nest 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  blacksmith's  anvil,  or  on  the  stem 
timbers  of  an  unfinished  vessel,  where  the  carpenters  were  still 
employed  in  their  noisy  labors.  That  sagacity  obtains  its  influ- 
ence over  unvarying  instinct  in  these  and  many  other  familiar 
birds,  may  readily  be  conceived  when  we  observe  that  this 
venturous  association  with  man  vanishes  with  the  occasion 
which  required  it ;  for  no  sooner  have  the  Oriole  and  Robin 
reared  their  young  than  their  natural  suspicion  and  shyness 
again  return. 

Deserts  and  solitudes  are  avoided  by  most  kinds  of  birds. 
In  an  extensive  country  of  unvarying  surface,  or  possessing  but 
little  variety  of  natural  productions,  and  particularly  where 
streams  and  waters  are  scarce,  few  of  the  feathered  tribes  are 
to  be  found.  The  extensive  prairies  of  the  West,  and  the 
gloomy  and  almost  interminable  forests  of  the  North,  as  well  as 


XXXll 


INTRODUCTION. 


the  umbrageous,  wild,  and  unpeopled  banks  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  other  of  the  larger  rivers,  no  less  than  the  vast  pine-bar- 
rens of  the  Southern  States,  are  nearly  without  birds  as  perma- 
nent residents.  In  crossing  the  desolate  piny  glades  of  the 
South,  with  the  exception  of  Creepers,  Nuthatches,  Wood- 
peckers, Pine  Warblers,  and  flocks  of  flitting  Larks  {Sturnelld), 
scarcely  any  birds  are  to  be  seen  till  we  approach  the  mean- 
ders of  some  stream,  or  the  precincts  of  a  plantation.  The 
food  of  birds  being  extremely  various,  they  consequently  con- 
gregate only  where  sustenance  is  to  be  obtained ;  watery  situa- 
tions and  a  diversified  vegetation  are  necessary  for  their  support, 
and  convenient  for  their  residence ;  the  fruits  of  the  garden 
and  orchard,  the  swarms  of  insects  which  follow  the  progress  of 
agriculture,  the  grain  which  we  cultivate,  —  in  short,  everything 
which  contributes  to  our  luxuries  and  wants,  in  the  way  of 
subsistence,  no  less  than  the  recondite  and  tiny  enemies  which 
lessen  or  attack  these  various  resources,  all  conduce  to  the 
support  of  the  feathered  race,  which  consequently  seek  out  and 
frequent  our  settlements  as  humble  and  useful  dependents. 

The  most  ingenious  and  labored  nest  of  all  the  North  Amer- 
ican birds  is  that  of  the  Orchard  Oriole,  or  Troopial.  It  is 
suspended,  or  pensile,  like  that  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  but,  with 
the  exception  of  hair,  constantly  constructed  of  native  mate- 
rials, the  principal  of  which  is  a  kind  of  tough  grass.  The 
blades  are  formed  into  a  sort  of  platted  purse  but  little  inferior 
to  a  coarse  straw  bonnet ;  the  artificial  labor  bestowed  is  so 
apparent  that  Wilson  humorously  adds,  on  his  showing  it  to  a 
matron  of  his  acquaintance,  bet\vixt  joke  and  earnest,  she 
asked  "  if  he  thought  it  could  not  be  taught  to  darn  stock- 
ings." Every  one  has  heard  of  the  Tailor  Bird  of  India  (Sylvia 
sutorid)  ;  this  little  architect,  by  way  of  saving  labor  and  gain- 
ing security  for  its  tiny  fabric,  sometimes  actually,  as  a  seam- 
stress, sews  together  the  edges  of  two  leaves  of  a  tree,  in  which 
her  nest,  at  the  extremity  of  the  branch,  is  then  secured  for  the 
period  of  incubation.  Among  the  Sylvias,  or  Warblers,  there 
is  a  species,  inhabiting  Florida  and  the  West  Indies,  the 
Sylvia  pensilis,  which  forms  its  woven,  covered  nest  to  rock  in 


r 

I 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXlll 


the  air  at  the  end  of  two  suspending  strings,  rather  than  trust 
it  to  the  wily  enemies  by  which  it  is  surrounded ;  the  entrance, 
for  security,  is  also  from  below,  and  through  a  winding  vestibule. 

Our  little  cheerful  and  almost  domestic  Wren  ( Troglodytes 
fulvus),  which  so  often  disputes  with  the  Martin  and  the  Blue- 
bird the  possession  of  the  box  set  up  for  their  accommodation 
in  the  garden  or  near  the  house,  in  his  native  resort  of  a  hollow 
tree,  or  the  shed  of  some  neglected  out-house,  begins  his  fabric 
by  forming  a  barricade  of  crooked  interlacing  twigs,  —  a  kind 
of  chevaux-de-friscy  —  for  the  defence  of  his  internal  habitation, 
leaving  merely  a  very  small  entrance  at  the  upper  edge.  The 
industry  of  this  little  bird,  and  his  affection  for  his  mate,  are 
somewhat  remarkable,  as  he  frequently  completes  his  habita- 
tion without  aid,  and  then  searches  out  a  female  on  whom  to 
bestow  it ;  but  not  being  always  successful,  or  the  premises  not 
satisfactory  to  his  mistress,  his  labor  remains  sometimes  with- 
out reward,  and  he  continues  to  warble  out  his  lay  in  solitude. 
The  same  gallant  habit  prevails  also  with  our  recluse  Wren  of 
the  marshes.  Wilson's  Marsh  Wren  ( Troglodytes  palustris) , 
instead  of  courting  the  advantages  of  a  proximity  to  our  dwel- 
lings, lives  wholly  among  the  reed-fens,  suspending  his  mud- 
plastered  and  circularly  covered  nest  usually  to  the  stalks  of 
the  plant  he  so  much  affects.  Another  marsh  species  inhabits 
the  low  and  swampy  meadows  of  our  vicinity  (  Troglodytes  bre- 
virostris),  and  with  ready  address  constructs  its  globular  nest 
wholly  of  the  intertwined  sedge-grass  of  the  tussock  on  which 
it  is  built ;  these  two  species  never  leave  their  subaquatic 
retreats  but  for  the  purpose  of  distant  migration,  and  avoid 
and  deprecate  in  angry  twitterings  every  sort  of  society  but 
their  own. 

Among  the  most  extraordinary  habitations  of  birds,  illustra- 
tive of  their  instinctive  invention,  may  be  mentioned  that  of 
the  Bengal  Grosbeak,  whose  pensile  nest,  suspended  from  the 
lofty  boughs  of  the  Indian  fig-tree,  is  fabricated  of  grass,  like 
cloth,  in  the  form  of  a  large  bottle,  with  the  entrance  down- 
wards ;  it  consists  also  of  two  or  three  chambers,  supposed  to 
be  occasionally  illuminated  by  the  fire- flies,  which,  however, 

VOL.  I. — c 


i 

1 

XXXIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


only  constitute  a  part  of  the  food  it  probably  conveys  for  the 
support  of  its  young.  But  the  most  extraordinary  instinct  of 
this  kind  known,  is  exhibited  by  the  Sociable,  or  Republican 
Grosbeak  {Ploceus  socius,  Cuvier),  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
In  one  tree,  according  to  Mr.  Patei^on,  there  could  not  be 
fewer  than  from  eight  hundred  to  one  thousand  of  these  nests, 
covered  by  one  general  roof,  resembling  that  of  a  thatched 
house,  and  projecting  over  the  entrance  of  the  nest.  Their 
common  industry  almost  resembles  that  of  bees.  Beneath  this 
roof  there  are  many  entrances,  each  of  which  forms,  as  it  were, 
a  regular  street,  with  nests  on  either  side,  about  two  inches  dis- 
tant from  each  other.  The  material  which  they  employ  in  this 
building  is  a  kind  of  fine  grass,  whose  seed,  also,  at  the  same 
time  serves  them  for  food. 

That  birds,  besides  their  predilection  for  the  resorts  of  men, 
are  also  capable  of  appreciating  consequences  to  themselves 
and  young,  scarcely  admits  the  shadow  of  a  doubt ;  they  are 
capable  of  communicating  their  fears  and  nicely  calculating 
the  probability  of  danger  or  the  immunities  of  favor.  We  talk 
of  the  cunning  of  the  Fox  and  the  watchfulness  of  the  Weasel ; 
but  the  Eagle,  Hawk,  Raven,  Crow,  Pye,  and  Blackbird  pos- 
sess those  traits  of  shrewdness  and  caution  which  would  seem 
to  arise  from  reflection  and  prudence.  They  well  know  the 
powerful  weapons  and  wiles  of  civilized  man.  Without  being 
able  to  smell  powder^  — a  vulgar  idea,  —  the  Crow  and  Blackbird 
at  once  suspect  the  character  of  the  fatal  gun  ;  they  will  alight  on 
the  backs  of  cattle  without  any  show  of  apprehension,  and  the 
Pye  even  hops  upon  them  with  insulting  and  garrulous  playful- 
ness ;  but  he  flies  instantly  from  his  human  enemy,  and  seems, 
by  his  deprecating  airs,  aware  of  the  proscription  that  affects 
his  existence.  A  man  on  horseback  or  in  a  carriage  is  much 
less  an  object  of  suspicion  to  those  wily  birds  than  when  alone ; 
and  I  have  been  frequently  both  amused  and  surprised,  in  the 
Southern  States,  by  the  sagacity  of  the  Common  Blackbirds  in 
starting  from  the  ploughing  field,  with  looks  of  alarm,  at  the 
sight  of  a  white  man,  as  distinct  from  and  more  dangerous  than 
the  black  slave,  whose  furrow  they  closely  and  familiarly  fol- 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXV 


lowed,  for  the  insect  food  it  afforded  them,  without  betraying 
any  appearance  of  distrust.  Need  we  any  further  proof  of 
the  capacity  for  change  of  disposition  than  that  which  has  so 
long  operated  upon  our  domestic  poultry?  —  "those  victims," 
as  Buffon  slightingly  remarks,  "which  are  multiplied  without 
trouble,  and  sacrificed  without  regret."  How  different  the  hab- 
its of  our  Goose  and  Duck  in  their  wild  and  tame  condition  ! 
Instead  of  that  excessive  and  timid  cautiousness,  so  peculiar 
to  their  savage  nature,  they  keep  company  with  the  domestic 
cattle,  and  hardly  shuffle  out  of  our  path.  Nay,  the  Gander 
is  a  very  ban-dog,  —  noisy,  gabbling,  and  vociferous,  he  gives 
notice  of  the  stranger's  approach,  is  often  the  terror  of  the 
meddling  school-boy,  in  defence  of  his  fostered  brood ;  and  it 
is  reported  of  antiquity,  that  by  their  usual  garrulity  and  watch- 
fulness they  once  saved  the  Roman  capitol.  Not  only  is  the 
disposition  of  these  birds  changed  by  domestication,  but  even 
their  strong  instinct  to  migration,  or  wandering  longings,  are 
wholly  annihilated.  Instead  of  joining  the  airy  phalanx  which 
wing  their  way  to  distant  regions,  they  grovel  contented  in  the 
perpetual  abundance  attendant  on  their  willing  slavery.  If 
instinct  can  thus  be  destroyed  or  merged  in  artificial  circum- 
stances, need  we  wonder  that  this  protecting  and  innate  intelli- 
gence is  capable  also  of  another  change  by  improve,  ..ent, 
adapted  to  new  habits  and  unnatural  restraints  ?  Even  without 
undergoing  the  slavery  of  domestication,  many  birds  become 
fully  sensible  of  immunities  and  protection ;  and  in  the  same 
aquatic  and  rude  family  of  birds  already  mentioned  we  may 
quote  the  tame  habits  of  the  Eider  Ducks.  In  Iceland  and 
other  countries,  where  they  breed  in  such  numbers  as  to  render 
their  valuable  down  an  object  of  commerce,  they  are  forbidden 
to  be  killed  under  legal  penalty ;  and  as  if  aware  of  this  legisla- 
tive security,  they  sit  on  their  eggs  undisturbed  at  the  approach 
of  man,  and  are  entirely  as  familiar,  during  this  season  of 
breeding,  as  our  tamed  Ducks.  Nor  are  thev  apparently  aware 
of  the  cheat  habitually  practised  upon  them  of  abstracting  the 
down  with  which  they  line  their  nests,  chough  it  is  usually 
repeated  until  they  make  the  third  attempt  at  incubation.     If, 


XXXVI 


TNTRODUCTIOxN. 


,  II 


however,  the  last  nest,  with  its  eggs  and  down,  to  the  lini.ig 
of  which  the  male  is  now  obliged  to  contribute,  be  taken  away, 
they  sagaciously  leave  the  premises,  without  return.  The  pious 
Storks,  in  Holland,  protected  by  law  for  their  usefulness,  build 
their  nests  on  the  tops  of  houses  and  churches,  often  in  the 
midst  of  cities,  in  boxes  prepared  for  them,  like  those  for  our 
Martins ;  and,  walking  about  the  streets  and  gardens  without 
apprehension  of  danger,  perform  the  usual  office  of  domestic 
scavengers. 

That  birds,  like  our  more  sedentary  and  domestic  quadru- 
peds, are  capable  of  exhibiting  attachment  to  those  who  feed 
and  attend  them,  is  undeniable.     Deprived  of  other  society, 
some  of  our  more  intelligent  species,  particularly  the  Thrushes, 
soon  learn  to  seek  out  the  company  of  their  friends  or  protec- 
tors of  the  human  species.     The  Brown  Thrush  and  Mocking 
Bird    become   in  thib  way  extremely   familiar,  cheerful,  and 
capriciously  playful ;  the  former,  in  particular,  courts  the  atten- 
tion of  his  master,  follows  his  steps,  complains  when  neglected, 
flies  to  him  when  suffered  to  be  at  large,  and  sings  and  reposts 
gratefully  perched  on  his  hand,  —  in  short,  by  all  his  actions  he 
appears  capable  of  real  and  affectionate  attachment,  and  is 
jealous  of  every  rival,  particularly  rny  other  bird,  which  he 
persecutes  from  his  presence  with  unceasing  hatred.     His  pet- 
ulant dislike  to  particular  objects  of  less  moment  is  also  dis- 
played by  various  tones  and  gestures,  which   sooi^    become 
sufficiently  intelligible  to  those  who  are  near  him,  £.s  well  as 
his   notes  of  gratulation  and   satisfaction.     His   language   of 
fear  and  surprise  could  never  be  mistaken,  and  an  imitation  of 
his  guttural  low  tsher*-,  tsherr,  on  these  occasions,  answers  as 
a  premonitory  warning  when  any  danger  awaits  him  from  the 
sly  approach  of  cat  or  squirrel.     As  I  have  now  descended,  as 
I  may  say,  to  the  actual  biography  of  one  of  these  birds,  which 
I  raised  and  kept  uncaged  for  some  time,  I  mcy  also  add,  that 
besides  a  playful  turn  for  mischief  and  interniption,  in  which 
he  would  sometimes  snatch  off  the  paper  on  which  I  was  writ- 
ing, he  had  a  good  degree  of  curiosity,  and  was  much  surprised 
one  day  by  a  large  springing  beetle  or  Elater  (E.  ocellatjis)^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXVII 


which  I  had  caught  and  placed  in  a  tumbler.  On  all  such 
occasions  his  looks  of  capricious  surprise  were  very  amusing  ;  he 
cautiously  approached  the  glass  with  fanning  and  closing  wings, 
and  in  an  under-tone  confessed  his  surprise  at  the  address  and 
jumping  motion  of  the  huge  msect.  At  length  he  became 
bolder,  and  perceiving  it  had  a  relation  to  his  ordinary  prey  of 
beetles,  he,  with  some  hesitation,  ventured  to  snatch  at  the 
prisoner  between  temerity  and  playfulness.  But  when  really 
alarmed  or  offended,  he  instantly  flew  to  his  loftiest  perch,  for- 
bid all  friendly  approaches,  and  for  some  time  kept  uj)  his  low 
and  angry  tsherr.  My  late  friend,  the  venerable  William  Bar- 
tram,  was  also  much  amused  by  the  intelligence  displayed  by 
this  bird,  and  relates  that  one  which  he  kept,  being  fond  of 
hard  bread-crumbs,  found,  when  they  grated  his  throat,  a  very 
rational  remedy  in  softening  them,  by  soaking  in  his  vessel  of 
water ;  he  likewise,  by  experience,  discovered  that  the  painful 
piick  of  the  wasps  on  which  he  fed,  could  be  obviated  by  ex- 
tracting their  stings.  But  it  would  be  too  tedious  and  minute 
to  follow  out  these  glimmerings  of  intelligence,  which  exist 
as  well  in  birds  as  in  our  most  sagacious  quadrupeds.  The 
remarkable  talent  of  the  Parrot  for  imitating  the  tones  of  the 
human  voice  has  long  been  familiar.  The  most  extraordinary 
and  well -authenticated  account  of  the  actions  of  one  of  the 
common  ash-colored  species  is  that  of  a  bird  which  Colonel 
O' Kelly  bought  for  a  hundred  guineas  at  Bristol.  This  indi- 
vidual not  only  repeated  a  great  number  of  sentences,  but 
answered  many  questions,  and  was  able  to  whistle  a  variety  of 
tunes.  While  thus  engaged  it  beat  time  with  all  the  appear- 
ance of  science,  and  possessed  a  judgment,  or  ear  so  accurate, 
that  if  by  chance  it  mistook  a  note,  it  would  revert  to  the  bar 
where  the  mistake  was  made,  correct  itself,  and  still  beating 
regular  time,  go  again  through  the  whole  with  perfect  exact- 
ness. So  celebrated  was  this  surprising  bird  that  an  obituary 
notice  of  its  death  appeared  in  the  "  General  Evening  Post " 
for  the  9th  of  October,  t8o2.  In  this  account  it  is  added,  that 
besides  her  great  musical  faculties,  she  could  express  her  wants 
articulately,  and  give  her  orders  in  a  manner  approaching  to 


xxxvin 


INTRODUCTION. 


rationality.  She  was,  at  the  time  of  her  decease,  supposed  tu 
be  more  than  thirty  years  of  age.  The  colonel  was  repeat- 
edly offered  five  hundred  guineas  a  year  for  the  bird,  by 
persons  who  wished  to  make  a  public  exhibition  of  her ;  but 
out  of  tenderness  to  his  favorite  he  constantly  refused  the 
offer. 

The  story  related  by  Goldsmith  of  a  parrot  belonging  to 
King  Henry  the  Seventh,  is  very  amusing,  and  possibly  true.  It 
was  kept  in  a  room  in  the  Palace  of  Westminster,  overlooking 
the  Thames,  and  had  naturally  enough  learned  a  store  of  boat- 
men's phrases ;  one  day,  sporting  somewhat  incautiously,  Poll 
fell  into  the  river,  but  had  rationality  enough,  it  appears,  to 
make  a  profitable  use  of  the  words  she  had  learned,  and  ac- 
cordingly vociferated,  "  A  boat !  twenty  pounds  for  a  boat !  " 
This  welcome  sound  reaching  the  ears  of  a  waterman,  soon 
brought  assistance  to  the  Parrot,  who  delivered  it  to  the 
king,  with  a  request  to  be  paid  the  round  sum  so  readily  prom- 
ised by  the  bird ;  but  his  Majesty,  dissatisfied  with  the  exor- 
bitant demand,  agreed,  at  any  rate,  to  give  him  what  the 
bird  should  now  award ;  in  answer  to  which  reference,  Poll 
shrewdly  cried,  "  Give  the  knave  a  groat  1  " 

The  story  given  by  Locke,  in  his  "  Essay  on  the  Human 
Understanding,"  though  approaching  closely  to  rationality,  and 
apparently  improbable,  may  not  be  a  greater  effort  than  could 
have  been  accomplished  by  Colonel  O' Kelly's  bird.  This 
Parrot  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Prince  Maurice,  then 
governor  of  Brazil,  ,  '.j  had  a  curiosity  to  witness  its  powers. 
The  bird  was  introduced  into  the  room,  where  sat  the  prince 
in  company  with  several  Dutchmen.  On  viewing  them,  the 
Parrot  exclaimed,  in  Portuguese,  **  What  a  company  of  white 
men  are  here  !  "  Pointing  to  the  prince,  they  asked,  "  Who  is 
that  man?"  to  which  the  Parrot  replies,  " Some  general  or 
other."  The  prince  now  asked,  "  From  what  place  do  you 
come?"  The  answer  was,  "From  Marignan."  "To  whom 
do  you  belong?"  It  answered,  " To  a  Portuguese."  "What 
do  you  do  there  ?  "  To  which  the  Parrot  replied,  "  I  look  after 
chickens  !  "     The  prince,  now  laughing,  exclaimed,  "  You  look 


,  supposed  tu 

1  was  repeat- 

the  bird,  by 

of  her ;  but 

^  refused  the 

belonging  to 
ibly  true.  It 
,  overlooking 
store  of  boat- 
autiously,  Poll 
it  appears,  to 
rned,  and  ac- 
for  a  boat !  " 
Herman,  soon 
ed  it  to  the 
readily  prom- 
'ith  the  exor- 
im  what  the 
eference,  Poll 

1  the  Human 
ationality,  and 
►rt  than  could 
>  bird.  This 
Maurice,  then 
sss  its  powers, 
sat  the  prince 
ing  them,  the 
pany  of  white 
ked,  "  Who  is 
le  general   or 

place  do  you 

"To  whom 

;se."     "  What 

"  I  look  after 
:d,  "  You  look 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXXIX 


after  chickens  !  "  To  which  Poll  pertinently  answered,  "  Yes, 
/,  —  and  I  know  well  enough  how  to  do  it;"  clucking  at  the 
same  instant  in  the  manner  of  a  calling  brood-hen. 

The  docility  of  birds  in  catching  and  expressing  sounds 
depends,  of  course,  upon  the  perfection  of  their  voice  and 
hearing,  —  assisted  also  by  no  inconsiderable  power  of  memory. 
The  imitative  actions  and  passiveness  of  some  small  birds,  such 
as  Goldfinches,  Linnets,  and  Canaries,  are,  however,  quite  as 
curious  as  their  expression  of  sounds.  A  Sieur  Roman  exhib- 
ited in  England  some  of  these  birds,  one  of  which  simulated 
death,  and  was  held  up  by  the  tail  or  claw  without  showing  any 
active  signs  of  life.  A  second  balanced  itself  on  the  head, 
with  its  claws  in  the  air.  A  third  imitated  a  milkmaid  going  to 
market,  with  pails  on  its  shoulders.  A  fourth  mimicked  a 
Venetian  girl  looking  out  at  a  window.  A  fifth  acted  the 
soldier,  and  mounted  guard  as  a  sentinel.  The  sixth  was  a 
cannonier,  with  a  cap  on  its  head,  a  firelock  on  its  shoulder, 
and  with  a  match  in  its  claw  discharged  a  small  cannon.  The 
same  bird  also  acted  as  if  v/ounded,  was  wheeled  in  a  little 
barrow,  as  it  were  to  the  hospital ;  after  which  it  flew  away 
before  the  company.  The  seventh  turned  a  kind  of  windmill ; 
and  the  last  bird  stood  amidst  a  discharge  of  small  fireworks, 
without  showing  any  sign  of  fear. 

A  similar  exhibition,  in  which  twenty- four  Canary  birds 
were  the  actors,  was  also  shown  in  London  in  1820,  by  a 
F"2nchman  named  Dujon ;  one  of  these  suffered  itself  to  be 
shot  at,  and  falling  down,  as  if  dead,  was  put  into  a  little 
wheelbarrow  and  conveyed  away  by  one  of  its  comrades. 

The  docility  of  the  Canary  and  Goldfinch  is  thus,  by  dint  of 
severe  education,  put  in  fair  competition  with  that  of  the  dog ; 
and  we  cannot  deny  to  the  feathered  creation  a  share  of  that 
kind  of  rational  intelligence  exhibited  by  some  of  our  sagacious 
quadrupeds,  —  an  incipient  knowledge  of  cause  and  effect  far 
removed  from  the  unimprovable  and  unchangeable  destinies  of 
instinct.  Nature  probably  delights  less  in  producing  such 
animated  machines  than  we  are  apt  to  suppose ;  and  amidst 
the  mutability  of  circumstances  by  which  almost  every  animated 


xl 


INTRODUCTION. 


being  is  su'TOunded,  there  seems  to  be  a  frequent  demand  for 
that  relieving  invention  denied  to  those  animals  which  are 
solely  governed  b>   inflexible  instinct. 

The  velocity  witii  which  birds  are  able  to  travel  in  their 
aerial  element  has  no  parallel  among  terrestrial  animals  ;  and 
this  powerful  capacity  for  progressive  motion  is  bestowed  in 
aid  of  their  peculiar  wants  and  instinctive  habits.  The  swiftest 
horse  may  perhaps  proceed  a  mile  in  something  less  than  two 
minutes  ;  but  such  exertion  is  unnatural,  and  quickly  fatal.  An 
Eagle,  whose  Stretch  of  wing  exceeds  seven  feet,  with  ease  and 
majesty,  and  without  any  extraordinary  effort,  rises  out  of  sight 
in  less  than  three  minutes,  and  therefore  must  fly  more  than 
three  thousand  five  hundred  yards  in  a  minute,  or  at  the  rate 
of  sixty  miles  in  an  hour.  At  this  speed  a  bird  would  easily  per- 
form a  journey  of  six  hundred  miles  in  a  day,  since  ten  hours 
only  would  be  required,  which  would  allow  frequent  halts,  and 
the  whole  of  the  night  for  repose.  Swallows  and  other  migra- 
tory birds  might  therefore  pass  from  northern  Europe  to  the 
equator  in  seven  or  eight  days.  In  fact,  Adanson  saw,  on  the 
coast  of  Senegal,  Swallows  that  had  arrived  there  on  the  pih  of 
October,  or  eight  or  nine  days  after  their  departure  from  the 
colder  continent.  A  Canary  Falcon,  sent  to  the  Duke  of  Lerma, 
returned  in  sixteen  hours  from  Andalusia  to  the  island  of  Tene- 
riffe,  —  a  distance  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  The  Gulls 
of  Barbadoes,  according  to  Sir  Hans  Sloane,  make  excursions  in 
flocks  to  the  distance  of  more  than  two  hundred  miles  after 
their  food,  and  then  return  the  same  day  to  their  rocky  roosts. 

If  we  allow  that  any  natural  powers  come  in  aid  of  the 
instinct  to  migration,  so  po>verful  and  uniform  in  birds,  besides 
their  vast  capacity  for  motion,  it  must  be  in  the  perfection  and 
delicacy  of  their  vision,  of  which  we  have  such  striking  ex- 
amples in  the  rapacious  tribes.  It  is  possible  that  it  times 
they  may  be  directed  principally  by  atmospheric  phenomena 
alone ;  and  hence  we  find  that  their  appearance  is  frequently 
a  concomitant  of  the  approaching  season,  and  the  wild  Petrel 
of  the  ocean  is  not  the  only  harbinger  of  storm  and  coming 
change.     The  currents  of  the  air,  in  those  which  make  exten- 


INTRODUCTION. 


Xli 


demand  for 
which   are 

vel  in  their 
nimals ;  and 
bestowed  in 
The  swiftest 
ess  than  two 
ly  fatal.  An 
ith  ease  and 
out  of  sight 
y  more  than 
r  at  the  rate 
Id  easily  per- 
ce  ten  hours 
It  halts,  and 
other  migra- 
Lirope  to  the 
I  saw,  on  the 
>n  the  9th  of 
ire  from  the 
ke  ofLerma, 
ind  of  Tene- 

The  Gulls 
excursions  in 
I  miles  after 
rocky  roosts. 

aid  of  the 
)irds,  besides 
jrfection  and 
striking  ex- 
lat  It  times 
phenomena 
is  frequently 
s  wild  Petrel 
and  coming 
make  exten- 


sive voyages,  are  seduloucly  employed  ;  and  hence,  at  certain 
seasons,  when  they  are  usually  in  motion,  we  find  their  arrival 
or  departure  accelerated  by  a  favorable  direction  of  the  winds. 
That  birds  also  should  be  able  to  derive  advantage  in  their 
journeys  from  the  acuteness  of  their  vision,  is  not  more  wonder- 
ful than  the  capacity  of  a  dog  to  discover  the  path  of  his 
master,  for  many  miles  in  succession,  by  the  mere  scent  of  his 
steps.  It  is  said,  indeed,  in  corroboration  of  this  conjecture, 
that  the  Passenger,  or  Carrying  Pigeon,  is  not  certain  to  return 
to  tlie  place  from  whence  it  is  brought,  unless  it  be  conveyed 
in  an  open  wicker  basket  admitting  a  view  of  the  passing 
scenery.  Many  of  our  birds,  however,  follow  instinctively  the 
great  valleys  and  river- courses,  which  tend  towards  their 
southern  or  warmer  destination ;  thus  the  great  valleys  of 
the  Connecticut,  the  Hudson,  the  Delaware,  the  Susquehanna, 
the  Santee,  and  more  particularly  the  vast  Mississippi,  are  often, 
in  part,  the  leading  routes  of  our  migrating  birds.  But,  in  fact, 
mysterious  as  is  the  voyage  and  departure  of  our  birds,  like 
those  of  all  other  countries  where  they  remove  at  all,  the  des- 
tination of  many  is  rendered  certain,  as  soon  as  we  visit  the 
southern  parts  of  the  Union,  or  the  adjoining  countries  of  Mex- 
ico, to  which  they  have  retired  for  the  winter ;  for  now,  where 
they  were  nearly  or  wholly  unknown  in  summer,  they  throng 
by  thousands,  and  flit  before  our  path  like  the  showering  leaves 
of  autumn.  It  is  curious  to  observe  the  pertinacity  of  this 
adventurous  instinct  in  those  more  truly  and  exxlusively  insec- 
tivorous species  which  wholly  leave  us  for  the  mild  and  genial 
regions  of  the  tropics.  Many  penetrate  to  their  destination 
through  Mexico  overland  j  to  these  the  whole  journey  is 
merely  an  amusing  and  varied  feast.  But  to  a  much  smaller 
number,  who  keep  too  far  toward  the  sea-coast,  and  enter  the 
ocean-bound  peninsula  of  Florida,  a  more  arduous  aerial  voy- 
age 13  presented ;  the  wide  ocean  must  be  crossed,  by  the 
young  and  inexperienced  as  well  as  the  old  and  venturous, 
before  they  arrive  either  at  the  tropical  continent  or  its  scat- 
tered islands.  When  the  wind  proves  propitious,  however, 
our  little  voyagers  wing  their  unerring   way   like   prosperous 


xlii 


INTRODUCTION. 


I 


fairies ;  but  baffled  by  storms  and  contrary  gales,  they  often 
suffer  from  want,  and  at  times,  like  the  Quails,  become  victims 
to  the  devouring  waves.  On  such  unfortunate  occasions  (as 
Mr.  Bullock  ^  witnessed  in  a  voyage  near  to  Vera  Cruz  late  in 
autumn),  the  famished  travellers  familiarly  crowd  the  decks  of 
the  vessel,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  rest  and  a  scanty  meal 
preparatory  to  the  conclusion  of  their  unpropitious  flight. 

Superficial  observers,  substituting  their  own  ideas  for  facts, 
are  ready  to  conclude,  and  frequently  assert,  that  the  old  and 
young,  before  leaving,  assemble  together  for  mutual  departure ; 
this  may  be  true  in  many  instances,  but  in  as  many  more  a 
different  arrangement  obtains.  The  young,  often  instinctively 
vagrant,  herd  together  in  separate  flocks  previous  to  their 
departure,  and  guided  alone  by  the  innate  monition  of  Nature, 
seek  neither  the  aid  nor  the  company  of  the  old  ;  consequently 
in  some  countries  flocks  of  young  of  particular  species  are  alone 
observed,  and  in  others,  far  distant,  we  recognize  the  old. 
From  parental  aid  the  juvenile  company  have  obtained  all  that 
Nature  intended  to  bestow,  —  existence  and  education ;  and 
they  are  now  thrown  upon  the  world  among  their  numerous 
companions,  with  no  other  necessary  guide  than  self-preserving 
instinct.  In  Europe  it  appears  that  these  bands  of  the  young 
always  affect  even  a  warmer  climate  than  the  old ;  the  aeration 
of  their  blood  not  being  yet  complete,  they  are  more  sensible 
to  the  rigors  of  cold.  The  season  of  the  year  has  also  its  effect 
on  the  movements  of  birds ;  thus  certam  species  proceed  to 
their  northern  destination  moie  to  the  eastward  in  the  spring, 
and  return  from  it  to  the  south-westward  in  autumn. 

The  habitudes  and  extent  of  the  migrations  of  birds  admit 
of  considerable  variety.  Some  only  fly  before  the  inundating 
storms  of  winter,  and  return  with  the  first  dawn  of  spring ; 
these  do  not  leave  the  continent,  and  only  migrate  in  quest  of 
food  when  it  actually  begins  to  fail.  Among  these  may  be 
named  our  common  Song  Sparrow,  Chipping  Sparrow,  Blue- 
bird, Robin,  Pewee,  Cedar  Bird,  Blackbird,  Meadow  Lark,  and 
many  more.     Others  pass  into  warmer  climates  in  the  autumn, 

1  Travels  in  Mexico. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xliii 


after  rearing  their  young.  Some  are  so  given  to  wandering 
that  their  choice  of  a  country  is  only  regulated  by  the  resources 
which  it  offers  for  subsistence ;  such  are  the  Pigeons,  Herons 
of  several  kinds,  Snipes,  wild  Geese  and  Ducks,  the  wandering 
Albatros,  and  Waxen  Chatterer. 

The  greater  number  of  birds  travel  in  the  night ;  some 
species,  however,  proceed  only  by  day,  as  the  diurnal  birds  of 
prey,  —  Crows,  Pies,  Wrens,  Creepers,  Crdss-bills,  Larks,  Blue- 
birds, Swallows,  and  some  others.  Those  which  travel  wholly 
in  the  night  are  the  Owls,  Butcher  Birds,  Kingfishers,  Thrushes, 
Flycatchers,  Night  Hawks,  Whip-poor-wills,  and  also  a  great 
number  of  aquatic  birds,  whose  motions  are  also  principally 
nocturnal,  except  in  the  cold  and  desolate  northern  regions, 
where  they  usually  retire  to  breed.  Other  birds  are  so  pow- 
erfully impelled  by  this  governing  motive  to  migration  that 
they  stop  neither  day  nor  night ;  such  are  the  Herons,  Mota- 
cillas.  Plovers,  Swans,  Cranes,  Wild  Geese,  Storks,  etc.  When 
untoward  circumstances  render  haste  necessary,  certain  kinds 
of  birds,  which  ordinarily  travel  only  in  the  night,  continue 
their  route  during  the  day,  and  scarcely  allow  themselves  time 
to  eat ;  yet  the  singing-birds,  properly  so  called,  never  migrate 
by  day,  whatever  may  happen  to  them.  And  it  may  here  be 
inquired,  with  astonishment,  how  these  feeble  but  enthusiastic 
animals  are  able  to  pass  the  time,  thus  engaged,  without  the 
aid  of  recruiting  sleep  ?  But  so  powerful  is  this  necessity  for 
travel  that  its  incentive  breaks  out  equally  in  those  which  are 
detained  in  captivity,  —  so  much  so  that  although  during  the 
day  they  are  no  more  alert  than  usual,  and  only  occupied 
in  taking  nourishment,  at  the  approach  of  night,  far  from  seek- 
ing repose,  as  usual,  they  manifest  great  agitation,  sing  without 
cea>.ing  in  the  cage,  whether  the  apartment  is  lighted  or  not ; 
and  when  the  moon  shines,  they  appear  still  more  restless,  as  it 
is  their  custom,  at  liberty,  to  seek  the  advantage  of  its  light 
for  facilitating  their  route.  Some  birds,  while  engaged  in  their 
journey,  still  find  means  to  live  without  halting,  —  the  Swallow, 
while  traversing  the  sea,  pursues  its  insect  prey ;  those  who 
can  subsist  on  fish  without  any  serious  effort,  feed  as  they  pass 


'? 


.■fT 


xliv 


INTRODUCTION. 


1- 


1 


or  graze  the  surface  of  the  deep.  If  the  Wren,  the  '  weeper, 
and  the  Titmouse  rest  for  an  instant  on  a  tree  to  snatch  a  hasty 
morsel,  in  the  next  they  are  on  the  wing,  to  fulfil  their  destina- 
tion. However  abundant  may  be  the  nourishment  which 
presents  itself  to  supply  their  wants,  in  general,  birds  of  passage 
rarely  remain  more  than  two  days  together  in  a  place. 

The  cries  of  many  birds,  while  engaged  in  their  aerial  voy- 
age, are  such  as  are  only  heard  on  this  important  occasion,  and 
appear  necessary  for  the  direction  of  those  which  fly  in  assem- 
bled ranks. 

During  these  migrations  it  has  been  observed  that  birds 
fly  ordinarily  in  the  higher  regions  of  the  air,  except  when 
fogs  force  them  to  seek  a  lower  elevation.  This  habit  is 
particularly  prevalent  with  Wild  Geese,  Storks,  Cranes,  and 
Herons,  which  often  pass  at  such  a  height  as  to  be  scarcely 
distinguishable. 

We  shall  not  here  enter  into  any  detailed  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  each  species  conducts  its  migration,  but 
shall  content  ourselves  with  citing  the  single  remarkable  exam- 
ple of  the  motions  of  Ihe  Cranes.  Of  all  migrating  birds,  these 
appear  to  be  endowed  with  the  greatest  share  of  foresight. 
They  never  undertake  the  journey  alone ;  throughout  a  circle 
of  several  miles  they  appear  to  communicate  the  intention 
of  commencing  their  route.  Several  days  previous  to  their 
tl^parture  they  call  upon  each  other  by  a  peculiar  cry,  as  if 
giving  warning  to  assemble  at  a  central  point ;  the  favorable 
moment  being  at  length  arrived,  they  betake  themselves  to 
flight,  and,  in  military  style,  fall  into  two  lines,  which,  uniting 
at  the  summit,  form  an  extended  angle  with  two  equal  sides. 
At  the  central  point  of  the  phalanx,  ihe  chief  takes  his  station, 
to  whom  the  whole  troop,  by  their  subordination,  appear  to 
have  pledged  their  obedience.  The  commander  has  not  only 
the  painful  task  of  breaking  the  path  through  the  air,  but  he 
has  also  the  charge  of  watching  for  the  common  safety ;  to 
avoid  the  attacks  of  birds  of  prey ;  to  range  the  two  lines  in  a 
circle  at  the  approach  of  a  tempest,  in  order  to  resist  with 
more  effect  the  squalls  which  menace  the  dispersion  of  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlv 


linear  ranks ;  and,  lastly,  it  is  to  their  leader  that  the  fatigued 
company  look  up  to  appoint  the  most  convenient  places  for 
nourishment  and  repose.  Still,  important  as  is  the  station  and 
function  of  the  aerial  director,  its  existence  is  but  momentary. 
As  soon  as  he  feels  sensible  of  fatigue,  he  cedes  his  place  to 
the  next  in  the  file,  and  retires  himself  to  its  extremity.  Dur- 
ing the  night  their  flight  is  attended  with  considerable  noise ; 
the  loud  cries  which  we  hear,  seem  to  be  the  marching  orders 
of  the  chief,  answered  by  the  ranks  who  follow  his  commands. 
Wild  Geese  and  several  kinds  of  Ducks  also  make  their  aerial 
voyage  nearly  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Cranes.  The  loud 
call  of  the  passing  Geese,  as  they  soar  securely  through  the 
higher  regions  of  the  air,  is  familiar  to  all ;  but  as  an  additional 
proof  of  their  sagacity  and  caution,  we  may  remark  that  when 
fogs  in  the  atmosphere  render  their  flight  necessarily  low,  they 
steal  along  in  silence,  as  if  aware  of  the  danger  to  which  their 
lower  path  now  exposes  them. 

The  direction  of  the  winds  is  of  great  importance  to  the 
migration  of  birds,  not  only  as  an  assistance  when  favorable, 
but  to  be  avoided  when  contrary,  as  the  most  disastrous  of 
accidents,  when  they  are  traversing  the  ocean.  If  the  breeze 
suddenly  change,  the  aerial  voyagers  tack  to  meet  it,  and  di- 
verging from  their  original  course,  seek  the  asylum  of  some 
land  or  island,  as  is  the  case  very  frequently  with  the  Quails, 
who  consequently,  in  their  passage  across  the  Mediterranean, 
at  variable  times,  make  a  descent  in  immense  numbers  on  the 
islands  of  the  Archipelago,  where  they  wait,  sometimes  for 
weeks,  the  arrival  of  a  propitious  gale  to  terminate  their  jour- 
ney. And  hence  we  perceive  the  object  of  migrating  birds, 
when  they  alight  upon  a  vessel  at  sea :  it  has  fallen  in  their 
course  while  seeking  refuge  from  a  baffling  breeze  or  over- 
whelming storm,  and  after  a  few  hours  of  rest  they  wing  their 
way  to  their  previous  destination.  That  Nature  has  provided 
ample  means  to  fulfil  the  wonderful  instinct  of  these  feeble  but 
cautious  wanderers,  appears  in  every  pait  of  their  economy. 
As  the  period  approaches  for  their  general  departure,  and  the 
chills  of  autumn  are  felt,  their  bodies  begin  to  be  loaded  with 


xlvi 


INTRODUCTION. 


cellular  matter,  and  at  no  season  of  the  year  are  the  true  birds 
of  passage  so  fat  as  at  the  approach  of  their  migration.  The 
Gulls,  Cranes,  and  Herons,  almost  proverbially  macilent,  are  at 
this  season  loaded  with  this  reservoir  of  nutriment,  which  is 
intended  to  administer  to  their  support  through  their  arduous 
and  hazardous  voyage.  With  this  natural  provision,  dormant 
animals  also  commence  their  long  and  dreary  sleep  through 
the  winter,  —  a  nutritious  resource  no  less  necessary  in  birds 
while  engaged  in  fulfilling  the  powerful  and  waking  reveries  of 
instmct. 

But  if  the  act  of  migration  surprise  us  when  performed  by 
birds  of  active  power  of  wing,  it  is  still  more  remarkable  when 
undertaken  by  those  of  short  and  laborious  flight,  like  the 
Coots  and  Rails,  who,  in  fact,  perform  a  part  of  their  route  on 
foot  The  Great  Penguin  {Aka  impennis),  the  Guillemot,  and 
the  Divers,  even  make  their  voyage  chiefly  by  dint  of  swim- 
ming. Tb  young  Loons  {^Colymbus glacialis),  bred  in  inland 
ponds,  though  proverbially  lame  (and  hence  the  name  of  Lom, 
or  Loon),  without  recourse  to  their  wings,  which  are  at  this 
time  inefficient,  continue  their  route  from  pond  to  pond, 
floundering  ove  the  intervening  land  by  night,  until  at  length 
they  gain  some  creek  of  the  sea,  and  finally  complete  their 
necessary  migration  by  water. 

Birds  of  passage,  both  in  the  old  and  new  continents,  are 
observed  generally  to  migrate  southwest  in  autumn,  and  to 
pass  to  the  northeast  in  spring.  Parry,  however,  it  seems,  ob- 
served the  birds  of  Greenland  proceed  to  the  southeast.  This 
apparent  aberration  from  the  usual  course  may  be  accounted 
for  by  considering  the  habits  of  these  aquatic  birds.  Intent  on 
food  and  shelter,  a  part,  bending  their  course  over  the  cold 
regions  of  Norway  and  Russia,  seek  the  shores  of  Europe ; 
while  another  division,  equally  considerable,  proceeding  south- 
west, spread  themselves  over  the  interior  of  the  United  States 
and  the  coast  and  kingdom  of  Mexico. 

This  propensity  to  change  their  climate,  induced  by  what- 
ever cause,  is  not  confined  to  the  birds  of  temperate  regions ; 
it  likewise  exists  among  many  of  those  who  inhabit  the  tiopics. 


INTRODUCTION. 


xlvii 


i  true  birds 
Ltion.  The 
ilent,  are  at 
It,  which  is 
leir  arduous 
n,  dormant 
;ep  through 
try  in  birds 
5  reveries  of 

:rformed  by 
rkable  when 
ht,  hke  the 
eir  route  on 
illemot,  and 
nt  of  swim- 
ed  in  inland 
mie  of  Lom, 
I  are  at  this 
d  to  pond, 
til  at  length 
mplete  their 

itinents,  are 
mn,  and  to 

seems,  ob- 
least.  This 
e  accounted 
Intent  on 
^er  the  cold 

of  Europe  ; 
eding  south- 

nited  States 

ed  by  what- 

ate  regions ; 

the  tiopics. 


Aquatic  birds  of  several  kinds,  according  to  Humboldt,  cross 
the  line  on  either  side  about  the  time  of  the  periodical  rise  of 
the  rivers.  Waterton,  likewise,  who  spent  much  time  in  Dem- 
erara  and  the  neighboring  countries,  observed  that  the  visits  of 
many  of  the  tropical  birds  were  periodical.  Thus  the  wonder- 
ful Campanero,  whose  solemn  voice  is  heard  at  intervals  tolling 
like  the  convent- bell,  was  rare  to  Waterton,  but  frequent  in 
Brazil,  where  it  most  probably  retires  to  breed.  The  failure 
of  particular  food  at  any  season,  in  the  mildest  climate,  would 
be  a  sufficient  incentive  to  a  partial  and  overland  migration 
with  any  species  of  the  feathered  race. 

The  longevity  of  birds  is  various,  and,  different  from  the 
case  of  man  and  quadrupeds,  seems  to  bear  but  little  propor- 
tion to  the  age  at  which  they  acquire  maturity  of  character.  A 
few  months  seems  sufficient  to  bring  the  bird  into  full  posses- 
sion of  all  its  native  powers  ;  and  there  are  some,  as  our  Marsh 
Titmouse  or  Chickadee,  which,  in  fact,  as  soon  as  fledged,  nre 
no  longer  to  be  distinguished  from  their  parents.  Land  ani- 
rials  generally  live  six  or  seven  times  as  long  as  the  period 
required  to  attain  maturity ;  but  in  birds  the  rate  is  tea  times 
greater.  In  proportion  to  their  size,  they  are  also  far  more 
vivacious  and  long-lived  than  other  animals  of  the  superior 
class.  Our  knowledge  of  the  longevity  of  birds  is,  however, 
necessarily  limited  to  the  few  examples  of  domesticated  species 
which  we  have  been  able  to  support  through  life :  the  result  of 
these  examples  is,  that  our  domestic  Fowls  have  lived  twenty 
years ;  Pigeons  have  exceeded  that  period  ;  Parrots  have  at- 
tained more  than  thirty  years.  Geese  live  probably  more  than 
half  a  century ;  a  Pelican  has  lived  to  eighty  years  ;  and  Swans, 
Ravens,  and  Eagles  have  exceeded  a  centuiy.  Even  Linnets, 
in  the  unnatural  restraints  of  the  cage,  have  survived  for  four- 
teen or  fifteen  years,  and  Canaries  twenty-five.  To  account  for 
this  remarkable  tenacity  of  life,  nothing  very  satisfactory  has 
been  offered ;  though  BufTon  is  of  opinion  that  the  3oft  and 
porous  nature  of  their  bones  ontributes  to  this  end,  as  the 
general  ossification  and  rigidity  of  the  system  perpetually  tends 
to  abridge  the  boundaries  of  life. 


xlviii 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  a  general  way  it  may  be  considered  as  essential  for  the 
bird  to  fly  as  it  is  for  the  fish  to  swim  or  the  quadruped  to 
walk ;  yet  in  all  these  tribes  there  are  exceptions  to  the  general 
habits.  Thus  among  quadrupeds  the  bats  fly,  the  seals  swim, 
and  the  beaver  and  otter  swim  better  than  they  can  walk.  So 
also  among  birds,  the  Ostrich,  Cassowary,  and  some  others, 
incapable  of  flying,  are  obliged  to  walk ;  others,  as  the  Dippers, 
fly  and  swim  but  never  walk.  Some,  like  the  Swallows  and 
Humming  Birds,  pass  their  time  chiefly  on  the  wing.  A  far 
greater  number  of  birds  live  on  the  water  than  of  quadrupeds, 
for  of  the  latter  there  are  not  more  than  five  or  six  kinds  fur- 
nished with  webbed  or  oar-like  feet,  whereas  of  birds  with  this 
structure  there  are  several  hundred.  The  lightness  of  their 
feathers  and  bones,  as  well  as  the  boat- like  form  of  their  bodies, 
contributes  greatly  to  facilitate  their  buoyancy  and  progress  in 
the  water,  and  their  feet  serve  as  oars  to  propel  them. 

Thus  in  whatever  way  we  view  the  feathered  tribes  which 
surround  us,  we  shall  find  much  both  to  amuse  and  instruct. 
We  hearken  to  their  songs  with  renewed  delight,  as  the  harbin- 
gers and  associates  of  the  season  they  accompany.  Their 
return,  after  a  long  absence,  is  hailed  with  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  existence;  and  the  cheerless  solitude  of  inani- 
mate Nature  is,  by  their  presence,  attuned  to  life  and  harmony. 
Nor  do  they  alone  administer  to  the  amusement  and  luxury  of 
life ;  faithful  aids  as  well  as  messengers  of  the  seasons,  they 
associate  round  our  tenements,  and  defend  the  various  produc- 
tions of  the  earth,  on  which  we  so  much  rely  for  subsistence, 
from  the  destructive  depredations  of  myriads  of  insects,  which, 
but  for  timely  riddance  by  unnumbered  birds,  would  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  general  failure  and  famine.  Public  economy  and 
utility,  then,  no  less  than  humanity,  plead  for  the  protection  of 
the  feathered  race ;  and  the  wanton  destruction  of  birds,  so 
useful,  beautiful,  and  amusing,  if  not  treated  as  such  by  law, 
ought  to  be  considered  as  a  crime  by  every  moral,  feeling,  and 
reflecting  mind. 


itial  for  the 
uadruped  to 
>  the  general 

seals  swim, 
n  walk.  So 
ome  others, 
the  Dippers, 
(vallows  and 
ring.  A  far 
quadrupeds, 
X  kinds  fur- 
rds  with  this 
less  of  their 
their  bodies, 

progress  in 
;m. 

tribes  which 
md  instruct. 
3  the  harbin- 
►any.  Their 
tude  to  the 
de  of  inani- 
nd  harmony, 
nd  luxury  of 
seasons,  they 
ious  produc- 

subsistence, 
sects,  which, 
ould  be  fol- 
conoray  and 
protection  of 

of  birds,  so 
sUch  by  law, 

feeling,  and 


ORNITHOLOGY 


OF  THE 


UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADA. 


■  1       '  11   ': 

1 J 

ii 

if 


TURKEY   VULTURE. 

TURKEY   BUZZARD. 

Cathartes  aura. 

Char.  Brownish  black;  head  bare  of  feathers  and  bright  red;  bill 
white ;  length  about  2  feet. 

Nest.    In  a  stump,  or  cavity  among  rocks,  without  additional  material. 

Eggs^  2 ;  white,  or  with  a  tinge  of  green  or  yellow,  spotted  with  brown 
and  purple;  2.75  X  1.90. 

This  common  Turkey-lilce  Vulture  is  found  abundantly  in 
both  North  and  South  America,  but  seems  wholly  to  avoid  the 
Northeastern  or  New  England  States,  a  straggler  being  seldom 
seen  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  41°.  Whether  this  limit  arises 
from  some  local  antipathy,  their  dislike  of  the  cold  eastern 
storms  which  prevail  in  the  spring  till  the  time  they  usually 
VOL.  I.  —  I 


i 


rrr 


fit 


,|:i-i 


2  BIRDS   OF   PREY. 

breed,  or  some  other  cause,  it  is  not  easily  assignable  ;  and  the 
fact  is  still  more  remarkable,  as  they  have  been  observed  in  the 
interior  by  Mr.  Say  as  far  as  Pembino,  in  the  49th  degree 
of  north  latitude,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke  near  the  Falls  of  the 
Oregon,  and  they  are  not  uncommon  throughout  that  territory. 
They  are,  however,  much  more  abundant  in  the  warmer  than 
in  the  colder  regions,  and  are  found  beyond  the  equator,  even 
as  far  or  flirther  than  the  La  Plata.  All  the  West  India  islands 
are  inhabited  by  them,  as  well  as  the  tropical  continent,  where, 
as  in  the  Southern  States  of  the  Union,  they  are  commonly 
protected  for  their  services  as  scavengers  of  carrion,  which 
would  prove  highly  deleterious  in  those  warm  and  humid  cli- 
mates. In  the  winter  they  generally  seek  out  warmth  and 
shelter,  hovering  often  like  grim  and  boding  spectres  in  the 
suburbs,  and  on  the  roofs  and  chimneys  of  the  houses,  around 
the  cities  of  the  Southern  States.  A  few  brave  the  winters  of 
Maryland,  Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  but  the  greater  part 
migrate  south  at  the  approach  of  cold  weather. 

The  Turkey  Buzzard  has  not  been  known  to  breed  north  of 
New  Jersey  in  any  of  the  Atlantic  States.  Here  they  seek  out 
the  swampy  solitudes,  and,  without  forming  any  nest,  deposit 
two  eggs  in  the  stump  of  a  hollow  tree  or  log,  on  the  mere 
fragments  of  rotten  wood  with  which  it  is  ordinarily  strewed. 
Occasionally,  in  the  Southern  States,  they  have  been  known  to 
make  choice  of  the  ruined  chimney  of  a  deserted  house  for 
this  purpose.  The  eggs  are  larger  than  those  of  a  Turkey,  of 
a  yellowish  white,  irregularly  blotched  with  dark  brown  and 
blackish  spots,  chiefly  at  the  larger  end.  The  male  often  at- 
tends while  the  female  is  sitting;  and  if  not  materially  dis- 
turbed, they  will  continue  to  occupy  the  same  place  for  several 
years  in  succession. 

The  young  are  covered  with  a  whitish  down,  and,  in  common 
with  the  habit  of  the  old  birds,  will  often  eject,  upon  those  who 
happen  to  molest  them,  the  filthy  contents  of  their  stomachs. 

In  the  cities  of  the  South  they  appear  to  be  somewhat  grega- 
rious, and  as  if  aware  of  the  protection  afforded  them,  pre- 
sent themselves  often  in  the  streets,  and  particularly  near  the 


1 


e ;  and  the 
rved  in  the 
9th  degree 
^alls  of  the 
at  territory, 
t'armer  than 
luator,  even 
ndia  islands 
nent,  where, 
;  commonly 
rrion,  which 
d  humid  cli- 
warmth  and 
jctres  in  the 
luses,  arovmd 
le  winters  of 
greater  part 

reed  north  of 
they  seek  out 
nest,  deposit 
on  the  mere 
rily  strewed. 
:en  known  to 
led  house  for 
a  Turkey,  of 
brown  and 
lale  often  at- 
laterially  dis- 
;e  for  several 

J,  in  common 
j)on  those  who 
|r  stomachs, 
lewhat  grega- 
Id  them,  pre- 
llarly  near  the 


TURKEY  VULTURE.  3 

shambles.  They  also  watch  the  emptying  of  the  scavengers' 
carts  in  the  suburbs,  where,  in  company  with  the  still  more 
domestic  Hlack  Vultures,  they  search  out  their  favorite  morsels 
amidst  dust,  filth,  and  rubbish  of  all  descriptions.  Bits  of 
cheese,  of  meat,  fibh,  or  anything  sufficiently  foetid,  and  easy  of 
digestion,  is  greedily  sought  after,  and  eagerly  eyed.  When 
the  opportunity  offers  they  eat  with  gluttonous  voracity,  and 
fill  themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  be  sometimes  incapa- 
ble of  rising  from  the  ground.  They  are  accused  at  times 
of  attacking  young  pigs  and  lambs,  beginning  their  assault  by 
picking  out  the  eyes.  Mr.  Waterton,  however,  while  at  Dem- 
erara  watched  them  for  hours  together  amidst  reptiles  of  all 
descriptions,  but  they  never  made  any  attack  upon  them.  He 
even  killed  lizards  and  frogs  and  put  them  in  their  way,  but 
they  did  not  appear  to  notice  them  until  they  attained  the 
putrid  scent.  So  that  a  more  harmless  animal,  living  at  all 
upon  flesh,  is  not  in  existence,  than  the  Turkey  Vulture. 

At  night  they  roost  in  the  neighboring  trees,  but,  I  believe, 
seldom  in  flocks  like  the  Black  kind.  In  winter  they  some- 
times pass  the  night  in  numbers  on  the  roofs  of  the  houses  in 
the  suburbs  of  the  Southern  cities,  and  appear  particularly 
desirous  of  taking  advantage  of  the  warmth  which  they  dis- 
cover to  issue  from  the  chimneys.  Here,  when  the  sun  shines, 
they  and  their  black  relatives,  though  no  wise  social,  may  be 
observed  perched  in  these  conspicuous  places  basking  in  the 
feeble  rays,  and  stretching  out  their  dark  wings  to  admit  the 
warmth  directly  to  their  chilled  bodies.  And  when  not  en- 
gaged in  acts  of  necessity,  they  amuse  themselves  on  fine  clear 
days,  even  at  the  coolest  season  of  the  year,  by  soaring,  in 
companies,  slowly  and  majestically  into  the  higher  regions  of 
the  atmosphere  ;  rising  gently,  but  rapidly,  in  vast  spiral  circles, 
they  sometimes  disappear  beyond  the  thinnest  clouds.  They 
practise  this  lofty  flight  particularly  before  the  commencement 
of  thunder-storms,  when,  elevated  above  the  war  of  elements, 
they  float  at  ease  in  the  ethereal  space  with  outstretched  wings, 
making  no  other  apparent  effort  than  the  light  balloon,  only 
now  and  then  steadying  their  sailing  pinions  as  they  spread 


i^ 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


I 


them  to  the  fanning  breeze,  and  become  abandoned  to  its 
accidental  sports.  In  South  America,  according  to  Humbcldt, 
they  soar  even  in  company  with  the  Condor  in  his  highest 
flights,  rising  above  the  summits  of  the  tropical  Andes. 

Examples  of  this  species  still  wander  occasionally  to  New  Eng- 
lanf^  and  to  Grand  Menan,  and  in  1887  Mi.  Philip  Cox  reported 
the  capture  of  two  near  the  mouth  of  the  Miramichi  River,  on  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Law  ence,  in  latitude  47°.  It  occurs  regularly  on  the 
St.  Clair  Flats,  in  Ontario. 

The  Vultures  are  not  classed  as  the  first  of  birds  by  the  syste- 
matists  of  the  present  day.  Now  the  singing-birds  —  the  Oscines  — 
arc  considered  the  most  highly  developed,  and  of  these  the  Thrush 
family  is  given  highest  rank.  The  Vultures  are  classed  as  the 
Ir  west  of  the  birds  of  prey  ;  and  this  entire  order  has  been  moved 
d'.wn  below  the  Swifts  and  the  Woodpeckers. 


I 


% 


BLACK  VULTURE. 

CARRION  CROW. 
Catharista  ATRATA. 

TjiAR.  T)ull  black ;  head  dusky  and  partially  covered  above  with 
feathers.     -_,ength  about  2  feet. 

N  H.  On  the  gruund  screened  by  bushes,  or  in  a  stump.  (No  attempt 
is  mads  to  build  a  nest  or  even  to  lay  a  cushion  for  the  «-ggs.) 

Eggs.  1-3  (usually  2) ;  bluish  white,  marked  with  several  shades  of 
brown;  3.10  x  2.05. 

This  smaller,  black,  and  truly  gregarious  species  of  Vulture 
in  the  United  States  appears  to  be  generally  confined  to  the 
Southern  States,  and  seems  to  be  most  numerous  and  familiar 
in  the  large  maritime  towns  of  North  and  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  i  lorida.  They  are  also  met  with  in  several  of 
the  Western  States,  and  as  far  up  the  Ohio  as  Cincinnati.  In 
the  tropical  regions  of  America  they  are  also  very  common, 
and  extend  at  least  as  far  as  Chili.  Like  the  former  species, 
with  which  they  associate  only  at  meal-times,  they  are  tacitly 
allowed  a  public  protection  for  the  service  they  render  in  rid- 
ding the  earth  of  carrion  and  other  kinds  of  filth.     They  are 


11 


i  :<■ 


BLACK   VULTURE. 


nuch  more  familiar  in  the  towns  than  the  preceding,  deUght- 
ing,  during  winter,  to  remain  on  the  roofs  of  houses,  catching 
the  feebie  rays  of  the  sun,  and  stretching  out  their  wings  to  ad- 
mit the  warm  air  over  their  foetid  bodies.  When  the  weather 
becomes  unusually  chilly,  or  in  the  mornings,  they  may  be 
seen  basking  upon  the  chimneys  in  the  warm  smoke,  which, 
as  well  as  the  soot  itself,  can  add  no  additional  darkness  or 
impurity  to  such  filthy  and  melancholy  spectres.  Here,  or  on 
the  limbs  of  some  of  the  larger  trees,  they  remain  in  listless 
indolence  till  aroused  by  the  calls  of  hunger. 

Their  flight  is  neither  so  easy  nor  so  graceful  as  that  of  the 
Turkey  Buzzard.  They  flap  their  wings  and  then  soar  hori- 
zontally, renewing  the  motion  of  their  pinions  at  short  inter- 
vals. At  times,  however,  they  rise  to  considerable  elevations. 
In  the  cities  of  Charleston  and  Savannah  they  are  to  be  seen  in 
numbers  walking  the  streets  with  all  the  familiarity  of  domestic 
Fowls,  examining  the  channels  and  accumulations  of  filth  in 
order  to  glean  up  the  ofial  or  animal  matter  of  ;.ny  kind 
which  may  happen  to  be  thrown  out.  They  appeared  to  be 
very  regular  in  their  attendance  around  the  shambles,  and 
some  of  them  become  known  by  sight.  This  was  particularly 
the  case  with  an  old  veteran  who  hopped  upon  one  foot 
(having  by  some  accident  lost  the  other),  and  had  regularly 
appeared  round  the  shambles  to  claim  the  bounty  of  the 
butchers  for  about  twenty  years.  In  the  country,  where  I  have 
surprised  them  feeding  in  the  woods,  they  appeared  rather  shy 
and  timorous,  watching  my  movements  alertly  like  Hawks ; 
and  every  now  and  then  one  or  two  of  them,  as  they  sat  in 
the  high  boughs  of  a  neighboring  oak,  communicated  to  the 
rest,  as  I  slowly  approached,  a  low  bark  of  alarm,  or  wau^hy 
something  like  the  suppressed  growl  of  a  puppy,  at  which  the 
whole  flock  by  degrees  deserted  the  dead  hog  upon  which 
they  happened  to  be  feeding.  Sometimes  they  will  collect 
together  about  one  carcase  to  the  number  of  two  hundred 
and  upwards ;  and  the  object,  whatever  it  may  be,  is  soon 
robed  in  living  mourning,  scarcely  anything  being  visible  but 
a  dense  mass  of  these  sable  scavengers,  who  may  often  be 


,irr 


6  BIRDS    OF   PREY. 

seen  jealously  contending  with  each  other,  both  in  and  out  of 
the  carcase,  defiled  with  blood  and  filth,  holding  on  with  their 
feet,  hissing  and  clawing  each  other,  or  tearing  off  morsels  so 
as  to  fill  their  throats  nearly  to  choking,  and  occasionally 
joined  by  growling  dogs,  —  the  whole  presenting  one  of  the 
most  savage  and  disgusting  scenes  in  nature,  and  truly  worthy 
the  infernal  bird  of  Prometheus. 

This  species  is  very  rarely  seen  north  of  the  Carolinas,  though 
a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in  New  England  and  at  Grand 
Menan. 


i! !{!. 


k;  y 


AUDUBON'S    CARACARA. 

CARACARA  EAGLE.     KING   BUZZARD. 
POIA^HORUS   CHERIWAV. 

rH\R.  General  color  brownish  black;  fore  part  of  back  and  breast 
barred  with  white  ;  tail  white,  with  bars  of  black.    Length  2oh  to  25  inches. 

A^t'st.     On  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  made  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

/\{X^.  2-4  (usually  2)  ;  brownish  white  or  pale  brown,  blotched  with 
deeper  brown  ;  2.30  X  1.75. 

This  \'ery  remarkable  and  fine  bird  was  first  met  with  by  Mr. 
Audubon  near  St.  Augustine,  in  East  Florida.  He  afterwards 
also  found  it  on  Galveston  Island,  in  Texas.  From  its  general 
habits  and  graceful,  sweeping  flight,  it  was  for  some  time  mis- 
taken for  a  Hawk.  Though  common  in  many  parts  of  South 
America,  it  is  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States  merely  an 
accidental  visitor.  It  is  said,  however,  to  breed  in  Florida,  in 
the  highest  branches  of  tall  trees  in  the  pine-barrens,  making 
a  rough  nest  of  sticks  like  a  Hawk.  In  Texas  it  breeds,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  irt  the  tops  of  bushes. 

Since  Nuttall  wrote,  the  Caracara  has  been  found  in  numbers 
in  parts  of  F'lorida,  and  it  is  not  uncommon  in  Texas,  southern 
Arizona,  and  Lower  California. 


WHITE   GYRFALCON. 

Falco  islaxdus. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  white,  often  immaculate,  but  usually  with 
dark  markings.  Legs  partially  feathered.  A  sharp  tooth  near  point  of 
upper  mandible  ;  the  end  of  under  mandible  notched.  Length  21  to  24 
inches. 

AVjA     Usually  on  a  cliff ;  roughly  made  of  sticks,  —  large  dry  twigs. 

^S.<^-  3~4  J  ^"ff  o""  brownish,  marked  with  reddish  brown;  2.25 
X  1.25.  


GRAY  GYRFALCON. 

Fai.co  ru.sticolus. 

Char.     Prevailing  color  dull  gray,  with  whitish  and  slaty-blue  bands 
and  spots;  sometimes  white  prevails  ;  thighs  usually  barred 


"i 


i!' 


8  BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

GYRFALCON. 

Falco  rusticolus  gyrfalco. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dull  brownish  (dusky),  with  bars  of  bluish  gray; 
lower  parts  white,  or  mostly  white  marked  with  dusky ;  thighs  heavily 
barred. 


BLACK  GYRFALCON. 

Falco  rusticolus  obsoletus. 

Char.    Prevailing  color  brownish  black;  usually  barred  with  lighter 
tints,  but  sometimes  the  ba  s  are  indistinct. 

This  elegant  and  celebrated  Falcon  is  abo  .  two  feet  in 
length ;  the  female  two  or  three  inches  longer.  They  particu- 
larly abound  in  Iceland,  and  are  found  also  throughout  Siberia, 
and  the  North  of  Europe  as  far  as  Greenland ;  Mr.  Hutchins, 
according  to  Pennant,  saw  them  commonly  about  Fort  Albany, 
at  Hudson's  Bay.  Occasionally  a  pair  is  also  seen  in  this 
vicinity  in  the  depth  of  winter.  They  brave  the  coldest  cli- 
mates, for  which  they  have  such  a  predilection  as  seldom  to 
leave  the  Arctic  regions ;  the  younger  birds  are  commonly  seen 
in  the  North  of  Germany,  but  very  rarely  the  old,  which  are 
readily  distinguished  by  the  superior  whiteness  of  their  plumage, 
which  augments  with  age,  and  by  the  increasing  narrowness 
of  the  transverse  stripes  that  ornament  the  upper  parts  of  the 
body.  The  finest  of  these  Falcons  were  caught  in  Iceland  by 
means  of  baited  nets.  The  bait  was  commonly  a  Ptarmigan, 
Pigeon,  or  common  Fowl;  and  such  was  the  velocity  and 
power  of  his  pounce  that  he  commonly  severed  the  head 
from  the  baited  bird  as  nicely  as  if  it  had  been  done  by  a 
razor.  These  birds  were  reserved  for  the  kings  of  Denmark, 
and  from  thence  they  were  formerly  transported  into  Ger- 
many, and  even  Turkey  and  Persia.  The  taste  for  the  amuse- 
ment of  falconry  was  once  very  prevalent  throughout  Europe, 
and  continued  for  several  centuries ;  but  at  this  time  it  has 
almost  wholly  subsided.  The  Tartars,  and  Asiatics  gener- 
ally, were  also  equally  addicted  to  this  amusement.     A  Sir 


DUCK  HAWK.  9 

Thomas  Monson,  no  later  than  the  reign  of  James  the  Fiist, 
is  said  tc  have  given  a  thousa.id  pournis  for  a  cast  of  Hawks. 

Next  to  the  Eagle,  this  bird  is  the  most  formidable,  active, 
and  int'^pid,  and  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  for  falconry. 
It  boldly  attacks  the  largest  of  birds ;  the  Swan,  Goose,  Stork, 
Heron,  and  Crane  are  to  it  easy  victims.  In  its  native  regions 
it  lives  much  on  the  hare  and  Ptarmigan ;  upon  these  it  darts 
with  astonishing  velocity,  and  often  seizes  its  prey  by  pouncing 
upon  it  almost  perpendicularly.  It  breeds  in  the  cold  and 
desert  regions  where  '*  usually  dwells,  fixing  its  nests  amidst 
the  most  lofty  and  inaccessible  rocks. 

Nuttall  treated  the  four  forms  as  one,  while  I  fellow  the  A.  O.  U. 
in  separating  them;  though  I  do  not  think  that  the  present  classifi- 
cation will  be  retained.  The  accessible  material  is  very  limited, 
but  it  appears  to  indicate  that  there  is  but  one  species  with  iwo, 
or  possibly  three,  geographical  races.  The  nests  and  eggs  and 
the  habits  are  similar,  the  difference  being  entirely  that  of  plu- 
mage,—  the  prevalence  of  the  dark  or  white  color. 

The  White  breeds  chiefly  in  North  Greenland  and  along  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Arctic  Ocean  ;  the  Gray  breeds  in  South  Greenland  ;  the 
Black  is  restricted  to  Labrador;  and  the  hah'itat  oi^r/alco  is  given 
as  "interior  of  Arctic  America  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Alaska." 
Specimens  of  Jl  four  have  been  taken  south  of  latitude  45°,  and 
a  few  of  the  Black  have  been  taken,  in  '.vinter,  as  far  south  as 
southern  New  England  and  New  York. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Prairie  Falcon  {Falro  mexi- 
canus)  have  accidentally  wandered  to  the  prairie  districts  of 
Illinois. 


DUCK  HAWK. 

PEREGRINE  FALCON.    GREAT- FOOTED  HAWK. 

Falco  PEREGRINUS  ANATUM. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash  or  brownish  black,  tlie  edges  of  the  feathers 
paler ;  below,  ashy  or  dull  tawny,  with  bar",  or  streaks  of  brownish  ■  a 
lilack  paich  on  the  cheeks.  VAX  of  bluish  color,  and  toothed  and  notched, 
as  in  all  true  Falcons;  cere  yellow.  Wing  long,  thin,  and  pointed. 
Length  17  to  19  inches. 


10 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


Nest.  On  tree  or  cliff;  a  loosely  arranged  platform  of  dry  sticks, 
sometimes  partially  lined  with  grass,  leaves.,  or  moss. 

Eggs.  2-4 ;  reddish  brown  —  sometimes  of  bright  tint  —  marked  with 
dull  red  and  rich  brown  ;  2.lo  X  1.60. 

The  celebrated,  powerful,  and  princely  Falcon  is  common 
both  to  the  continent  of  Europe  and  America.  In  the  former 
they  are  chiefly  found  in  mountainous  regions,  and  make  their 
nests  in  the  most  inaccessible  clefts  of  rock ;,  and  very  rarely 
in  trees,  laying  3  or  4  eggs  of  a  reddish-yellow,  with  brown 
spots.  In  Europe  they  seldom  descend  to  the  plains,  and 
avoid  marshy  countries.  The  period  of  incubation  lasts  but 
rt  short  time,  and  commences  in  winter,  or  very  early  in  the 
spring,  so  that  the  young  acquire  their  full  growth  by  the 
middle  of  May.  They  are  supposed  to  breed  in  the  tall  trees 
of  the  desolate  cedar  swamps  in  New  Jersey.  Audubon,  how- 
ever, found  them  nesting  on  shelving  rocks  on  the  shores  of 
Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  laying  from  2  to  5  eggs  of  a 
rusty  yellowish  brown,  spotted  and  blotched  with  darker  tints 
of  the  same  color.  They  also  breed  on  shelving  rocks  in  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  where  Mr.  Townsend  obtained  a  specimen 
on  Hig  Sandy  River  of  the  Colorado  of  the  West  in  the  month 
of  July.  When  the  young  have  attainea  their  growth,  the 
parents  drive  thern  from  their  haunts,  with  incessant  and 
piercing  screams  and  complaints,  —  an  unnatural  propensity 
which  nothing  but  dire  necessity,  the  difficulty  of  acquiring 
sustenance,  can  palliate. 

In  strength  and  temerity  the  Falcon  is  not  exceeded  by 
any  bird  of  its  size.  He  soars  with  easy  and  graceful  motions 
amidst  the  clouds  or  clear  azure  of  the  sky ;  from  this  lofty 
elevation  he  selects  his  victim  from  among  the  larger  birds,  — 
Grouse,  Pheasants,  Pigeons,  Ducks,  or  Geese.  Without  being 
perceived,  he  swiftly  descends,  as  if  falling  from  the  clouds  in 
a  perpendicular  line,  and  carries  terror  and  destruction  into 
the  timid  ranks  of  his  prey.  Instead  of  flying  before  their 
relentless  enemy,  the  Partridge  and  Pheasant  run  and  closely 
hide  in  the  grass,  the  Pigeons  glance  aside  to  avoid  the  fatal 
blow  which  is  but  too  sure  in  its  aim,  and  the  Water  Fowls  seek 


PIGEON  HAWK. 


II 


a  more  certain  refuge  in  diving  beneath  their  yielding  element. 
If  the  prey  be  not  too  large,  the  Falcon  mounts  into  the  air, 
bearing  it  off  in  his  talons,  and  then  alights  to  gorge  himself 
with  his  booty  at  leisure.  Sometimes  he  attacks  the  Kite, 
another  fellow- plunderer,  either  in  wanton  insult,  or  more 
probably  to  rob  him  of  his  quarry. 

The  Peregrine  is  very  generally  distributed  throughout  America, 
but  excepting  on  the  Atlantic  coast  of  Labrador,  and  possibly  on 
Newfoundland,  it  is  nowhere  common  in  this  faunal  province.  It 
is  a  winter  visitor  chiefly  in  Ohio  and  southern  Ontario,  but  it  is 
known  to  breed  on  isolated  cliffs  in  the  Maritime  Provinces  and  the 
New  England  States,  and  it  is  said  that  nests  have  been  found  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Maryland.  The  report  of  its  building  in  a  swamp 
in  New  Jersey  has  not  been  confirmed. 


PIGEON   HAWK. 

FaLCO   COLUMBARIUS. 

Char.  Generally  the  prevailing  color,  above,  is  blackish  brown,  though 
the  older  birds  assume  a  dull  tint  apjiroaching  bluish  gray  ;  wings,  back, 
and  tail  streaked  and  barred  with  huffy  or  reddish  brown.  Tail  tipped  with 
white  ;  the  middle  tail-feathers  in  male  with  four  bands  of  blackish,  and 
in  female  about  six  pale  bands.  Below,  dull,  pale  reddish  brown,  lighter 
on  breast  and  throat.     Length  1 1  to  13  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  on  branches  of  trees,  though  found  .'.^metimes  in  cavi- 
ties of  dead  trees  and  on  cliffs ;  loosely  built  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  grass 
and  leaves. 

Eggs.  3-6 ;  buffy  or  pale  reddish-brown  ground  color,  blotched  with 
dull  red  and  brown  ;  1.30  x  1.55. 

This  species  is  a  little  larger  than  the  following,  but  by  no 
means  so  abundant;  though  met  with  in  latitude*  forty-eight 
degrees  by  long's  Northwestern  Expedition,  and  occasion- 
ally extending  its  migrations  from  Texas  to  Hudson's  Bay,  and 
rearing  its  young  in  the  interior  of  Canada.  Its  nest  was  also 
observed  by  Audubon  in  Labrador  in  the  low  fir-trees,  and  con- 
tained five  eggs,  laid  about  the  ist  of  June.  It  is  shy,  skulk- 
ing, and  watchful,  seldom  venturing  beyond  the  unreclaimed 
forest,  and  flies  rapidly,  but,  I  believe,  seldom  soars  or  hovers. 


12 


BIRDS  OF   PREY. 


Small  birds  and  mice  constitute  its  principal  food ;  and  ac- 
cording to  Wilson,  it  follows  often  in  the  rear  of  the  gregarious 
birds,  such  as  the  Blackbirds  and  Reedbirds,  as  well  as  after 
the  flitting  flocks  of  Pigeons  and  Robins,  picking  up  the  strag- 
glers, the  weak  and  unguarded,  as  its  legitimate  prey.  Some- 
times, when  shot  at  without  effect,  it  will  fly  in  circles  around 
the  gunner  and  utter  impatient  shrieks,  —  probably  in  appre- 
hension for  the  safety  of  the  mate,  oi  to  communicate  a  cry 
of  alarm. 

The  Pigeon  Hawk  is  not  a  common  bird  in  Massachusetts,  though 
a  few  pairs  breed  in  the  State ;  and  it  has  been  found  in  summer  in 
Connecticut,  as  well  as  in  Illinois  and  Ohio,  though  Mcllwraith 
considers  it  a  migrant  only  in  southern  Ontario.  It  breeds  spar- 
ingly in  the  northern  portions  of  New  England,  the  Maritime  Prov- 
inces of  Canada  and  north  to  the  lower  fur  countries,  and  in  winter 
ranges  to  the  Southern  States. 


Note.  —  One  example  of  the  European  Merlin  {Falco  regulus) 
has  been  captured  off  the  coast  of  Greenland. 


I 


I  >  ! 


AMERICAN   SPARROW   HAWK. 
Falco  sparverius. 

Char.  Adult  male  :  head  bluish  ash,  with  reddish  patch  on  crown,  and 
black  patch  on  sides  and  nape ;  back  rufous  ;  wings  bluish  and  black  in 
bars  ;  tail  tawny,  with  black  band,  and  tipped  with  white ;  below,  buffish  or 
tawny.  Female  :  rufous  and  black,  more  streaked  than  the  male ;  the 
tail  tawny,  with  several  blackish  bars.     Length  lo  to  ii  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  cavities  of  trees,  often  in  Woodpecker's  holes,  some- 
times in  deserted  nest  of  a  Crow. 

Eggs.  5-7 ;  buffish,  occasionally  white,  blotched  with  dull  red  and 
browr;  1.33  X  1.12. 

This  beautiful  and  singularly  marked  bird  appears  to  reside 
principally  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  United  States.  They  are 
particularly  abundant  in  the  winter  throughout  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Florida,  whither  they  assemble  from 
the  remote  interior  of  the  Northern  States,  wandering  in  sum- 
mer as  far  as  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  were  even  seen  by 
Dr.  Richardson  in  the  remote  latitude  of  53°  ;  these  appear, 
however,  to  be  only  stragglers,  nor  do  they  seem  at  all  to  visit 


M 


14 


BIRDS   Ol'"   I'REV. 


the  maritime  districts  of  New  England.  As  they  were  seen  in 
St.  Domingo,  by  Veillot,  abundantly  in  April  and  May,  the 
breeding-season,  we  may  naturally  conclude  that  this  species 
has  a  much  greater  predilection  for  the  warm  than  the  cold 
climates.  On  the  south  side  of  the  equator,  even  in  Cayenne 
and  Paraguay,  they  are  still  found,  in  all  of  which  countries 
they  probably  breed. 

According  to  the  habits  of  this  tribe  of  rapacious  birds 
it  appears  that  the  nest  is  built  in  a  hollow,  shattered,  or 
decayed  tree  at  a  considerable  elevation. 

Its  motions  appear  somewhat  capricious ;  it  occasionally 
hovers  with  beating  wings,  reconnoitring  for  prey,  and  soon 
impatiently  darts  off  to  a  distance  to  renew  the  same  ma- 
noeuvre. In  the  winter,  however,  it  is  most  commonly  seen 
perched  on  some  dead  branch,  or  on  a  pole  or  stalk  in  the 
fields,  often  at  a  little  distance  from  the  ground,  keeping  up  a 
frequent  jerking  of  the  tail,  and  attentively  watching  for  some 
such  humble  game  as  mice,  grasshoppers,  or  lizards.  At  this 
time  it  is  likewise  so  familiar  as  to  enter  the  garden,  orchard, 
or  premises  near  to  the  house,  and  shows  but  little  alarm  on 
being  approached.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  deficient  in 
courage,  and,  like  the  larger  Falcons,  often  makes  a  fatal  and 
rapid  sweep  upon  Sparrows  or  those  small  birds  which  are  its 
accustomed  prey. 

Instead  of  being  a  mere  straggler  outside  the  warmer  portions  of 
the  United  States,  as  Nuttall  appears  to  have  considered  this  Fal- 
con, it  is  quite  common  throughout  most  of  the  continent,  and  not 
only  breeds  in  New  England,  but  winters  there.  It  breeds  also 
throughout  Canada,  north  to  the  lower  fur  countries,  and  retires  to 
the  Southern  States  during  the  cold  weather. 


Note.  —  The  Cuban  Sparrow  Hawk  {Falco  sparverioides) 
has  been  found  in  Florida;  and  two  examples  of  the  Kestrel 
{Fnlcfl  tiunncnlus)  have  been  captured  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic, 
—  one  off  the  coast  of  Greenland,  and  the  other  at  Nantasket, 
Mass.,  in  1S87. 


GOLDEN  EAGLE. 

AqUILA   CHRYSAEl'OS. 

Char.  Dark  brown,  head  and  neck  tawny  brown  ;  legs  feathered  to 
the  toes ;  in  the  young,  tail  whitish,  with  broad  terminal  band  of  black. 

Nest.  On  a  tree,  sometimes  on  a  high  cliff;  loosely  built  of  dry  sticks, 
lined  with  twigs,  grass,  moss,  leaves,  and  feathers. 

Egi^s.  2-3  (usually  2);  dull  white  or  pale  buff,  spotted  and  blotched 
more  or  less  thickly  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender ;  3.00  X  2.30. 

This  ancient  monarch  of  the  birds  is  found  in  all  the  cold 
and  temperate  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  taking  up 
his  abode  by  choice  in  the  great  forests  and  pliuns,  and  in  wild, 
desert,  and  mountainous  regions.  His  eyry,  commonly  formed 
of  an  extensive  set  of  layers  of  large  sticks,  is  nearly  horizontal, 
and  occasionally  extended  between  some  rock  and  adjoining 


1  i 


i6 


lllKDS   OF   PREV. 


1 1 


tree,  as  was  the  one  described  by  Willughby  in  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire.  About  thirty  miles  inland  from  the  Mandan  Fort 
on  the  Miiisouri  I  once  had  occasion  to  observe  the  eyry  of 
this  noble  bird,  which  here  consisted  of  but  a  slender  lining  of 
sticks  conveyed  into  a  rocky  chasm  on  the  face  of  a  lofty  hill 
rising  out  of  the  grassy,  open  plain.  It  contained  one  young 
bird,  nearly  fledged,  and  almost  of  the  color  of  the  Gyrfalcon. 
Near  their  rocky  nests  they  are  seen  usually  in  pairs,  at  times 
majestically  soaring  to  a  vast  height  and  gazing  on  the  sun, 
towards  which  they  ascend  until  they  disappear  from  view. 
From  this  sublime  elevation  they  often  select  their  devoted 
prey,  —  sometimes  a  kid  or  a  lamb  from  the  sporting  flock,  or 
the  timid  rabbit  or  hare  crouched  in  the  furrow  or  sheltered  in 
some  bush.  The  largest  birds  are  also  frequently  their  victims ; 
and  in  extreme  want  they  will  not  refuse  to  join  with  the 
alarmed  Vulture  in  his  cadaverous  repast.  After  this  gorging 
meal  the  Eagle  can,  if  necessary,  fast  for  several  days.  The 
precarious  nature  of  his  subsistence  and  the  violence  by  which 
it  is  constantly  obtained  seem  to  produce  a  moral  effect  on 
the  disposition  of  this  rapacious  bird  :  though  in  pairs,  they  are 
never  seen  associated  with  their  young;  their  offspring  are 
driven  forth  to  lead  the  same  unsocial,  wandering  life  as  their 
unfeeling  progenitors.  This  harsh  and  tyrannical  disposition  is 
strongly  displayed  even  when  they  lead  a  life  of  restraint  and 
confinement.  The  weaker  bird  is  never  willingly  suffered  to 
eat  a  single  morsel ;  and  though  he  may  cower  and  quail  under 
the  blow  with  the  most  abject  submission,  the  same  savage 
deportment  continues  towards  him  as  long  as  he  exists.  Those 
which  I  have  seen  in  confinement  frequently  uttered  hoarse 
and  stridulous  cries,  sometimes  almost  barkings,  accompanied 
by  vaporous  breathings,  strongly  expressive  of  their  ardent, 
unquenchable,  and  savage  appetites.  Their  fire-darting  eyes, 
lowering  brows,  flat  foreheads,  restless  disposition,  and  terrific 
plaints,  together  with  their  powerful  natural  weapons,  seem  to 
assimilate  them  to  the  tiger  rather  than  the  timorous  bird.  Yet 
it  would  appear  that  they  may  be  rendered  docile,  as  the  Tar- 
tars (according  to  Marco  Polo  in  1269)  were  said  to  train 


GOLDEN  EAGLE. 


17 


this  species  to  the  chase  of  hares,  foxes,  wolves,  antelopes,  and 
other  kinds  of  large  game,  in  which  it  displayed  all  the  docility 
of  the  Falcon.  The  longevity  of  the  Eagle  is  as  remarkable  as 
its  strength  ;  it  is  believed  to  subsist  for  a  century,  and  is  about 
three  years  in  gaining  its  complete  growth  and  fixed  j)lumage. 
This  bii.l  was  held  in  high  estimation  by  the  ancients  on  ac- 
count of  its  extraordinary  magnitude,  courage,  and  sanguinary 
habits.  The  Romans  chose  it  as  an  emblem  for  their  imperial 
standard ;  and  from  its  aspiring  flight  and  majestic  soaring  it 
was  fabled  to  hold  communication  with  heaven  and  to  be  the 
fiivorite  messenger  of  Jove.  The  Tartars  have  a  particular 
esteem  for  the  feathers  of  the  tail,  with  which  they  supersti- 
tiously  think  to  plume  invincible  arrows.  It  is  no  less  the 
venerated  IVar-Ea^^h'  of  our  Northern  and  Western  aborigines; 
and  the  caudal  feathers  are  extremely  valued  for  talismanic 
head-dresses  and  as  sacred  decorations  for  the  Pipe  of  Peace. 

The  Eagle  appears  to  be  more  abundant  around  Hudson's 
Bay  than  in  the  United  States ;  but  they  are  not  unfrequent  in 
the  great  plains  of  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri,  as  appears 
from  the  frequent  use  of  the  feathers  by  the  natives.  The 
wilderness  seems  their  favorite  resort,  and  they  neither  crave 
nor  obtain  any  advantage  from  the  society  of  man.  Attached 
to  the  mountains  in  which  they  are  bred,  it  is  a  rare  occurrence 
to  see  the  Eagle  in  this  vicinity ;  and,  as  with  some  other  birds, 
it  would  appear  that  the  young  only  are  found  ni  the  United 
States,  while  the  old  remain  in  Labrador  and  the  northern 
regions.  The  lofty  mountains  of  New  Hampshire  afford  suit- 
able situations  for  the  eyry  of  the  Eagle,  over  whose  snow-clad 
summits  he  is  seen  majestically  soaring  in  solitude  and  gran- 
deur. A  young  bird  from  this  region,  which  I  have  seen  in  a 
state  of  domestication,  showed  considerable  docility.  He  had, 
however,  been  brought  up  from  the  nest,  in  which  he  was  found 
in  the  month  of  August ;  he  appeared  even  playful,  turning  his 
head  about  in  a  very  antic  manner,  as  if  desirous  to  attract 
attention,  —  still,  his  glance  was  quick  and  fiery.  When  birds 
were  given  to  him,  he  plumed  them  very  clean  before  he  began 
his  meal,  and  picked  the  subject  to  a  perfect  skeleton. 
VOL.  L  —  2 


i8 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


1  «: 


The  ferocious  and  savage  nature  of  the  Eagle,  in  an  unre- 
claimed state,  is  sometimes  displayed  in  a  remarkable  manner. 
A  peasant  attempted  to  rob  an  eyry  of  this  bird  situated  at  the 
Lake  of  Killarney  :  for  this  purpose  he  stripped  and  swam  over 
to  the  spot  in  the  absence  of  the  old  birds ;  but  on  his  return, 
while  yet  up  to  the  chin  in  water,  the  parents  arrived,  and 
missing  their  young,  instantly  fell  on  the  unfortunate  plunderer 
and  killed  him  on  the  spot. 

There  are  several  well-authenticated  instances  of  their  carry- 
ing off  children  to  their  nesih,  Tn  1737,  in  the  parish  of 
Norderhougs,  in  Norway,  a  boy  over  two  years  old,  on  his  way 
from  the  cottage  to  his  parents,  at  work  in  the  fields  at  no  great 
distance,  fell  into  the  pounce  of  an  Eagle,  who  flew  off  with 
the  child  in  their  sight,  and  was  seen  no  more.  Anderson,  in 
his  history  of  Iceland,  says  that  'n  that  island  children  of  four 
or  five  years  of  age  have  occasionally  been  borne  away  by 
Eagles ;  and  Ray  relates  that  in  one  of  the  Orkneys  a  child  of 
a  year  old  was  seized  in  the  talons  of  this  ferocious  bird  and 
carried  about  four  miles  to  its  nest,  but  the  mother,  knowing 
the  place  of  the  eyry,  followed  the  bird,  and  recovered  her  child 
yet  unhurt. 

The  Common,  or  Ring-tailed  Eagle,  is  now  found  to  be  the 
young  of  the  Golden  Eagle.  These  progressive  changes  have 
been  observed  by  Temminck  on  two  living  subjects  which  he 
kept  for  several  years. 

The  Golden  Eag^e  is  generally  considered  to  be  a  rare  bird  in 
New  England  and  Canada,  and,  indeed,  throughout  the  settled  dis- 
tricts everywhere  ;  though  examples  have  been  taken  the  continent 
over,  from  Greenland  to  Mexico,  and  west  to  the  Pacific. 


in  an  iinre- 
ble  manner, 
uated  at  the 
1  swam  over 
n  his  return, 
arrived,  and 
te  plunderer 


nd  to  be  the 
hanges  have 
cts  which  he 


a  rare  bird  in 
le  settled  dis- 
the  continent 
ific. 


BALD   EAGLE 

WASHINGTON   EAGLE. 


/"'  x 


Halleetus  leucocephalus. 

Char.  Adult :  blackish  brown,  paler  on  margin  of  feathers  ;  head  and 
tail  white  after  third  year;  bill  and  feet  yellow;  legs  bare  of  feathers. 
Young:  darker  than  the  adult;  no  white  on  head  or  tail  (or  concealed  by 
contour  feathers);  bill  and  feet  brownish. 

Length  30  to  40  inches.  (The  young  are  larger  than  the  adult  birds, 
and  are  very  similar  to  the  young  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  though  the  latter 
are  easily  distinguished  by  their  feathered  legs.) 

A'est.  On  a  high  tree,  usually  in  a  crotch,  seldom  on  a  dead  tree,  some- 
times on  a  clif ;  made  of  dry  sticks  loosely  arranged,  and  occasionally 
weed-stems  and  coarse  grass  are  added  ;  but  there  is  rarely  any  attempt  at 
a  lining. 

A^y-f^"    2-3 ;  white  or  pale  buff ;  2.90  X  n.i^. 


20 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


■Ml 


1 


1 

I 


The  Washington  Eagle.  —  It  is  to  the  indefatigable  Audu- 
bon that  we  owe  the  distinct  note  and  description  of  this  noble 
Eagle,  which  first  drew  his  attention  while  voyaging  far  up  the 
Mississippi,  in  the  month  of  February,  1814  At  length  he  had 
the  satisfaction  of  discovering  its  eyry,  in  the  high  cliffs  of  Green 
River,  in  Kentucky,  near  to  its  junction  with  the  Ohio :  two 
young  were  discovered  loudly  hissing  from  a  fissure  in  the 
rocks,  on  the  approach  of  the  male,  from  whom  they  received 
a  fish.  The  female  now  also  came,  and  with  solicitous  alarm 
for  the  safety  of  her  young,  gave  a  loud  scream,  dropped  the 
food  she  had  brought,  and  hovering  over  the  molesting  party, 
kept  up  a  growling  and  threatening  cry  by  way  of  intimidation ; 
and  in  fact,  as  our  disappointed  naturalist  soon  discovered,  she 
from  this  time  forsook  the  spot,  and  foimd  means  to  convey 
away  her  young.  The  discoverer  considers  the  species  as  rare, 
—  indeed,  its  principal  residence  appears  to  be  in  the  northern 
parts  of  the  continent,  particularly  the  rocky  solitudes  around 
the  Great  Northwestern  Lakes,  where  it  can  at  all  times  col- 
lect its  finny  prey  and  rear  its  young  without  the  dread  of  man. 
In  the  winter  season,  about  January  and  February,  as  well  as  at 
a  later  period  of  the  spring,  these  birds  are  occasionally  seen 
in  this  vicinity  (Cambridge,  Mass.), — rendered  perhaps  bolder 
and  more  familiar  by  want,  as  the  prevalence  of  the  ice  and 
cold  at  this  season  drives  them  to  the  necessity  of  wandering  far- 
ther than  usual  in  search  of  food.  At  this  early  period  Audubon 
observed  indications  of  the  approach  of  the  breeding-season. 
They  are  sometimes  seen  contending  in  the  air,  so  that  one  of 
the  antagonists  will  suddenly  drop  many  feet  downwards,  as  if 
wounded  or  alarmed.  My  friend  Dr.  Hayward,  of  Boston,  had 
in  his  possession  one  of  these  fine,  docile  Eagles  for  a  consid- 
erable time ;  but  desirous  of  devoting  it  to  the  then  Linnaean 
Museum,  he  attempted  to  poison  it  by  corrosive  sublimate  of 
mercury :  several  times,  however,  doses  even  of  two  drams 
were  given  to  it,  concealed  in  fish,  without  producing  any  inju- 
rious effect  on  its  health. 

The  Washington  Eagle,  bold  and  vigorous,  disdains  the 
piratical  habits  of  the  Bald  Eagle,  and  invariably  obtains  his 


BALD   EAGLE. 


21 


own  sustenance  without  molesting  the  Osprey.  The  circles  he 
describes  in  his  flight  are  wider  than  those  of  the  White- 
headed  Eagle ;  he  also  flies  nearer  to  the  land  or  the  surface 
of  the  water ;  and  when  about  to  dive  for  his  prey,  he  descends 
in  circuitous,  spiral  rounds,  as  if  to  check  the  retreat  of  the 
fish,  on  which  he  darts  only  when  within  the  distance  of  a  few 
yards.  When  his  prey  is  obtained,  he  flies  out  at  a  low  eleva- 
tion to  a  considerable  distance  to  enjoy  his  repast  at  leisure. 
The  quantity  of  food  consumed  by  this  enormous  bird  is  very 
great,  according  to  the  account  of  those  who  have  had  them 
in  confinement.  Mr.  Audubon's  male  bird  weighed  fourteen 
and  one  half  pounds  avoirdupois.  One  in  a  small  museum  in 
Philadelphia  (according  to  the  account  of  my  friend  Mr.  C. 
Pickering),  also  a  male,  weighed  much  more,  —  by  which  dif- 
ference it  would  appear  that  they  are  capable  of  becoming 
exceedingly  fat ;  for  the  length  of  this  bird  was  about  the  same 
as  that  of  Audubon,  —  three  feet  six  or  seven  inches.  The 
widch,  however,  was  only  about  seven  feet,  —  agreeing  pretty 
nearly  with  a  specimen  now  in  the  New  England  Museum. 
The  male  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  the  largest  hitherto  known,  is 
seldom  more  than  three  feet  long. 

That  this  bird  is  not  the  White-tailed  Eagle  {Faico  albi- 
ciiia)y  or  its  young,  the  Sea  Eagle  (^F.  ossi/ragus) ,  is  obvi- 
ous from  the  difference  in  size  alone,  the  male  of  that  bird 
being  little  over  two  feet  four  inches  in  length,  or  a  little 
less  even  than  the  Bald  Eagle.  The  female  of  the  Washing- 
ton Eagle  must,  of  course,  be  six  or  eight  inches  longer,  — 
which  will  give  a  bird  of  unparalleled  magnitude  amongst  the 
whole  Eagle  race.  This  measurement  of  the  Sea  Eagle  is 
obtained  from  Temminck's  "  Manual  of  Ornithology,"  who  has 
examined  more  than  fifty  individuals.  At  the  same  time  I  have 
a  suspicion  that  the  Washington  Eagle,  notwithstanding  this, 
exists  also  in  Europe ;  as  the  great  Sea  Eagle  of  Brisson  is 
described  by  this  author  as  being  three  feet  six  inches  in  length 
from  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  and  the  stretch 
of  the  wings  about  seven  feet !  These  measurements  also  are 
adopted  by  Buffon  ;  but  the  individuals  were  evidently  in  young 


5    h 


22 


BIRDS   OF   PREY. 


[ 


11 


!.l   t, 


f   I 


if 


$ 


plumage,  in  which  state,  as  described  by  Brisson,  they  again 
approach  the  present  species.  Nor  need  it  be  considered  as 
surprising  if  two  different  species  be  confounded  in  the  Sea 
Kagle  of  I'Airope,  ns  the  recently  established  Imperial  Eagle 
had  ever  been  confounded  with  the  Golden.  Another  distin- 
guishing trait  of  the  Washington  Kagle  is  in  the  length  of  the 
tail,  which  is  one  and  one  half  inches  longer  than  the  folded 
wings.  In  the  White-tailed  species  this  part  never  extends 
beyond  the  wings. 

T/tc  IVhitc-htaded  or  Bald  Eai^/c.  —  This  noble  and  daring 
Eagle  is  found  along  the  sea-coasts,  lakes,  and  rivers  through- 
out the  northern  regions,  being  met  with  in  Asia,  Europe,  and 
America,  where  they  extend  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  and 
as  far  as  the  confines  of  California.  In  Behring's  Isle,  Mack- 
enzie's River,  and  (ireenUuid,  they  are  not  uncommon.  But 
while  they  are  confined  in  the  Old  World  to  this  cheerless  re- 
gion so  constantly  that  only  hao  instances  are  known  of  their 
appearance  in  the  centre  of  Europe,  in  the  United  States  they 
are  most  abundant  in  the  milder  latitudes,  residmg,  breeding, 
and  rearing  their  young  in  all  the  intermediate  space  from 
Nova  Scotia  or  Labrador  to  the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
The  rocky  coast  of  this  part  of  New  England  (Massachusetts) 
is,  however,  seldom  tenanted  by  this  species,  though  they  are 
occasionally  seen  in  the  spring  and  about  the  commencement 
of  winter.  In  the  United  States  it  is  certain  that  they  show  a 
decided  predilection  for  the  milder  climates.  It  is  probable 
that  in  Pairope  they  are  deterred  in  their  migrations  by  the 
tyrannical  persecution  of  the  White-tailed  Eagle  (/^  a/Mci/ia), 
which  abounds  in  that  country,  living  also  principally  on  fish, 
and  therefore  selecting  the  same  maritime  situations  as  our 
Eagle.  In  the  United  States  he  sways  almost  without  control 
the  whole  coast  of  the  Atlantic,  and  has  rendered  the  rival 
Osprey  his  humble  tributary,  proscribing,  in  his  turn,  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  Sea  Eagle,  which,  if  it  exist  at  all  with  us,  is 
equally  as  rare  as  the  present  species  ai:)pears  to  be  in  Europe. 

Though  on  Behring's  Isle  the  Bald  Eagle  is  said  to  nest  on 


BALD   EAGLE. 


23 


cliffs,  as  the  only  secure  situation  that  probably  offers,  in  the 
United  States  he  usually  selectf?^  near  the  sea-coast,  some  lofty 
pine  or  cypress  tree  for  his  eyry ;  this  is  built  of  large  sticks, 
several  feet  in  length,  forming  a  floor,  within  and  over  which 
are  laid  sods  of  earth,  hay,  moss,  dry  reeds,  sedge-grass,  pine- 
tops,  and  other  coarse  materials,  piled  after  several  incubations 
to  the  height  of  5  or  6  feet,  and  4  or  5  feet  in  breadth.  On 
this  almost  level  bed  the  female  early  in  February  deposits  two 
dull  white  eggs,  one  of  which  is  said  sometimes  to  be  laid  after 
an  interval  so  considerable  that  the  young  are  hatched  at  dif- 
ferent periods.  Lawson,  however,  says  that  they  breed  so 
often  as  to  commence  laying  again  under  their  callow  young, 
whose  warmth  assists  the  ii«,tching  of  the  eggs.  This  eyry  or 
breeding-place  continues  to  be  perpetually  occupied  and  re- 
paired as  long  as  the  tree  endures,  —  indeed  their  attachment 
to  particular  places  is  so  strong  that  after  their  habitation  has 
been  demolished,  by  the  destruction  of  the  tree  that  supported 
it,  they  have  very  contentedly  taken  possession  of  an  adjoin- 
ing one.  Nor  is  the  period  of  incubation  the  only  time  spent 
in  the  nest  by  this  species ;  it  is  a  shelter  and  common  habi- 
tation at  all  times  and  seasons,  being  a  home  like  the  hut  to 
the  savage,  or  the  cottage  to  the  peasant. 

The  helpless  young,  as  might  be  supposed,  are  fed  with 
great  attention,  and  supplied  with  such  a  superfluity  of  fish 
and  other  matters  that  they  often  lie  scattered  around  the 
tree,  producing  the  most  putrid  and  noisome  effluvia.  The 
young  are  at  first  clothed  with  a  whitish  down ;  they  gradually 
become  gray,  and  continue  of  a  brownish  gray  until  the  third 
year,  when  the  characteristic  white  of  the  head  and  tail  be- 
comes perfectly  developed.  As  their  food  is  abundant,  the 
young  are  not  forcibly  driven  from  the  nest,  but  fed  for  some 
time  after  they  have  left  it.  They  are  by  no  means  shy  or 
timorous,  will  often  permit  a  near  approach,  and  sometimes 
even  bristle  up  their  feathers  in  an  attitude  of  daring  de- 
fence. '1  heir  cry  is  sonorous  and  lamentable,  like  that  of  the 
(ireat  Eagle,  and  when  asleep  they  are  said  to  make  a  very 
audible  snoring  sound. 


)  u 


4,' 


-I 

i 

i  i 


24 


BIRDS   OF   PREY. 


The  principal  food  of  the  liald  Ivigle  is  fish ;  and  though  he 
possesses  every  requisite  of  alertness  and  keenness  of  vision 
for  securing  his  prey,  it  is  seldom  that  he  obtains  it  by  any 
other  means  than  stratagem  and  rapine.  For  this  habitual 
daring  purpose  he  is  often  seen  i)erching  upon  the  naked 
limb  of  some  lofty  tree  which  commands  an  extensive  view  of 
the  ocean.  In  this  attitude  of  expectation  he  heedlessly  sur- 
veys the  active  employment  of  the  feathered  throng,  which 
course  along  the  wavy  strand,  or  explore  the  watery  deep  with 
beating  wing,  until  from  afar  he  attentively  scans  the  motions 
of  his  i)rovider,  the  ample-winged  and  hovering  Osprey.  At 
length  the  watery  ])rey  is  espied,  and  the  feathered  fisher  de- 
scends like  a  fiilling  rock ;  cleaving  the  wave,  he  now  bears  his 
struggling  victim  from  the  deep,  and  mounting  in  the  air, 
utters  an  exulting  scream.  At  this  signal  the  Eagle  pirate 
gives  chase  to  the  fortunate  fisher,  and  soaring  above  him,  by 
threatening  attitudes  obliges  him  to  relinquish  his  prey ;  the 
Eagle,  now  poising  for  a  surer  aim,  descends  like  an  arrow, 
and  snatching  his  booty  before  it  arrives  at  the  water,  retires 
to  the  woods  to  consume  it  at  leisure.  These  perpetual  dep- 
redations on  the  industrious  Osprey  sometimes  arouse  him  to 
seek  for  vengeance,  and  several  occasionally  unite  to  banish 
their  tyrannical  invader.  When  greatly  pressed  by  hunger,  the 
Bald  Eagle  has  sometimes  been  observed  to  attack  the  Vul- 
ture in  the  air,  obliging  him  to  disgorge  the  carrion  in  his 
craw,  which  he  snatches  up  before  it  reaches  the  ground.  He 
is  sometimes  seen  also  to  drive  away  the  Vultures,  and  feed 
voraciously  on  their  carrion.  Besides  fish,  he  preys  upon 
Ducks,  (leese.  Gulls,  and  other  sea-fowl ;  and  when  the  re- 
sources of  the  ocean  diminish,  or  fail  from  any  cause,  par- 
ticularly on  the  southern  migravion  of  the  Osprey,  his  inland 
depredations  are  soon  notorious,  young  lambs,  pigs,  fawns,  and 
even  deer  often  becoming  his  prey.  So  indiscriminate  in- 
deed is  the  fierce  appetite  of  this  bold  bird  that  instances  are 
credibly  related  of  their  carrying  away  infants.  An  attempt  of 
this  kind,  according  to  Wilson,  was  made  upon  a  child  lying 
by  its  mother  as  she  was  v*reeding  a  garden  at  Great  Egg- 


RAT.l)   EAr,T,E. 


25 


Harbor,  in  New  Jersey ;  but  the  garment  seized  iii)on  by  tiie 
Kagle  giving  way  at  the  instant  of  the  attempt,  the  Ufe  of  the 
child  was  spared.  I  have  heard  of  another  instance,  said  to 
liave  hapi)ened  at  I'ctersburgh,  in  (leorgia,  near  the  Savannah 
River,  where  an  infant,  sleeping  in  the  shade  near  the  house, 
was  seizetl  and  carried  to  the  eyry  near  the  edge  of  a  swamp 
five  miles  distant,  and  when  found,  almost  immediately,  the 
child  was  dead.  The  story  of  the  Kagle  and  child,  in  "  T'^c 
History  of  the  House  of  Stanley,"  the  origin  of  the  crest  of 
that  family,  shows  the  credibility  of  the  exploit,  as  supposed  to 
have  been  effected  by  the  White-tailed  Eagle,  so  nearly  related 
to  the  piesent.  Indeed,  about  the  year  1 745  some  Scotch 
reapers,  accompanied  by  the  wife  of  one  of  them  with  an 
infant,  repaired  to  an  island  in  Loch  Lomond  ;  the  mother  laid 
down  her  child  in  the  shade  at  no  great  distance  from  her,  and 
while  she  was  busily  engaged  in  labor,  an  Eagle  of  this  kind 
sudlenly  darted  upon  the  infant  and  immediately  bore  it  away 
CO  its  rocky  eyry  on  the  summit  of  IJen  Lomond.  The  alarm 
of  this  shocking  event  was  soon  sjiread ;  and  a  considerable 
party,  hurrying  to  the  rescue,  fortunately  succeeded  in  recover- 
ing the  child  alive. 

The  Bald  Kagle,  like  most  of  the  large  species,  takes  wide 
circuits  in  its  flight,  and  soars  at  great  heights.  In  these  sub- 
lime attitudes  he  may  often  be  seen  hovering  over  waterfalls 
and  lofty  cataracts,  particularly  that  of  the  famous  Niagara, 
where  he  watches  for  the  fate  of  those  unfortunate  fish  and 
other  animals  that  are  destroyed  in  the  descent  of  the  tumul- 
tuous waters. 

All  ornithologists  of  the  present  day  agree  in  the  opinion  th..i 
Audubon's  "  Bird  of  Washington  "  was  an  immature  Bald  Kagle, 
—  the  difference  in  size  and  coloration  accounting  for  the  error. 

Nuttall,  following  Audubon,  wrote  of  the  two  phases  as  of  dis- 
tinct species  ;  for  it  was  not  until  about  1870  that  washitii^toni  was 
dropped  from  the  lists.  I  have  given  the  two  biographies  as  they 
appeared  in  the  original  work,  for  together  they  form  a  good  his- 
tory of  the  bird's  distinctive  habits.  The  difference  in  habits  noted 
is  not  due  to  difference  of  age,  as  might  be  supposed,  but  to  the 
different  conditions  under  which  the  birds  chanced  to  be  observed. 


nw 


ti-'\', 


26 


BIRDS  OF   PREY. 


I  will  take  this  opportunity  of  protesting  against  the  perpetua- 
tion of  an  idea,  still  current,  which  originated  with  the  older  writers, 
concerning  the  "nobility"  of  the  Falconidce,  uxidtr  which  family 
name  are  grouped  the  Eagles,  Falcons,  Kites,  and  Hawks.  They 
were  until  quite  recently  classed  among  the  first  of  the  feathered 
race ;  but  the  systematists  now  place  them  below  the  Woodpeckers, 
.  and  next  above  the  Grouse  and  Pigeons. 

The  majority  of  the  Falconidce  have  an  attractive  physique  and 
superior  strength,  as  well  as  a  haughty  bearing.  They  are  hand- 
s  me,  st?.iwari  ruffians,  but  they  are  nothing  more.  They  are 
ni,.ii'»ev  tht  most  intelligent  nor  most  enterprising  of  birds,  nor  the 
biuv:  !.  ^hey  are  not  even  the  swiftest,  or  most  dexterous  on  the 
winy  an  J  ..i  bearing,  proudly  as  they  carry  themselves,  are  not 
supreme. 

It  is  now  considered  probable  that  the  tales  of  Eagles  c?rrying 
oii  children  are  myths. 


i 


I 


% 


11 


GRAY  SEA   EAGLE. 

WHITE-TAILED  EAGLE. 
Hali/eetus  ALBICILLA. 

Char.  General  color,  grayisli-brown  (paler  on  margin  of  feathers); 
head  and  neck  gray,  —  paler  in  old  birds  ;  tail  white ;  legs  bare. 

Length  :  male,  33  inches  ;  femaks  38  inches. 

A'est.  In  a  tree  or  on  a  rock,  sometimes  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry 
sticks  loosely  arranged  and  often  piled  to  considerable  height. 

Eggs.     1-3  (usually  2);  dull  white;  2.85  X  2.25. 

Mr.  Hagerup  reports  that  this  European  bird  breeds  in  so\ithern 
Greenland  and  is  quite  common  there.  It  feeds  principally  on  fish, 
but  will  eat  any  kind  of  meat  or  carrion,  being  particularly  partial 
to  water  fowl,  and  is  much  more  enterprising  than  is  its  congener, 
the  Bald  Eagle. 


ill 


ll 


AMERICAN   OSPREY. 

FISH   HAWK. 
PaNDION    HALIAETUS   CAROLlNENSiS 


'^i^-cv.    /  ^:)^ 


Char.  Above,  dark  brown;  head  and  neck  white,  with  dark  stripe  on 
side  of  the  head  ;  tail  grayish,  with  several  narrow  dark  bars,  and  tipped 
with  white;  under-parts  white  or  bufifish,  sometimes  (in  female)  streaked 
with  brown.  Feet  and  claws  large  and  strong.  Hook  of  the  bill  long. 
Length  21  to  25  inches. 

A'c'sf.  Of  loosely  arranged  sticks  on  top  of  high  tree,  —  generally  a 
dead  tree  is  selected;  usually  near  water. 

£,^^^s.  2  to  4 ;  variable  in  shape,  color,  size,  and  markings ;  ground 
color  generally  whitish,  with  yellow  or  red  tint,  blotched  with  reddish 
brown  of  various  shades.     Size  about  2.50  X  1.75. 

This  large  and  well-known  species,  allied  to  the  Eagles,  is 
found  near  fresh  and  salt  water  in  almost  every  country  in  the 


:■:<% 


28 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


world.  In  summer  it  wanders  into  the  Arctic  regions  of 
Europe,  Asia,  and  America ;  it  is  also  equally  prevalent  in  the 
milder  parts  of  both  continents,  as  in  Greece  and  Egypt.  In 
America  it  is  found  in  the  summer  from  Labrador,  and  the 
interior  around  Hudson's  Bay,  to  Florida ;  and  according  to 
Buffon,  it  extends  its  residence  to  the  tropical  regions  of 
Cayenne. 

Its  food  being  almost  uniformly  fish,  it  readily  acquires  sub- 
sistence as  long  as  the  waters  remain  unfrozen ;  but  at  the 
commencement  of  cool  weather,  even  as  early  as  the  close  of 
September,  or  at  farthest  the  middle  of  October,  these  birds 
leave  New  York  and  New  Jersey  and  go  farther  south.  This 
early  period  of  departure  is,  in  all  probability,  like  their  arrival 
towards  the  close  of  March,  wholly  regulated  by  the  coming 
and  going  of  the  shoals  of  fish  on  which  they  are  accustomed 
to  feed.  Towards  the  close  of  March  or  beginning  of  April 
they  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  with  the  first  shoal  of 
alewives  or  herrings ;  but  yet  are  seldom  known  to  breed  along 
the  coast  of  Massachusetts.  Their  arrival  in  the  spring  is  wel- 
comed by  the  fisherman  as  the  sure  indication  of  the  approach 
of  those  shoals  of  shad,  herring,  and  other  kinds  of  fish  which 
now  begin  to  throng  the  bays,  inlets,  and  rivers  near  the  ocean  ; 
and  the  abundance  with  which  the  waters  teem  affords  ample 
sustenance  for  both  the  aerial  and  terrestrial  fishers,  as  each 
pursues  in  peace  his  favorite  and  necessary  employment.  In 
short,  the  harmless  industry  of  the  Osprey,  the  familiarity  with 
which  he  rears  his  young  around  the  farm,  his  unexpected 
neutrality  towards  all  the  domestic  animals  near  him,  his  sub- 
limely picturesque  flight  and  remarkable  employment,  with  the 
strong  affection  displayed  towards  his  constant  mate  and  long 
helpless  young,  and  the  wrongs  he  hourly  suffers  from  the 
pirate  Eagle,  are  circumstances  sufficiently  calculated,  without 
the  aid  of  ready  superstition,  to  ensure  the  public  favor  and 
tolerance  towards  this  welcome  visitor.  Driven  to  no  harsh 
necessities,  like  his  superiors  the  Eagles,  he  leads  a  compar- 
atively harmless  life ;  and  though  unjustly  doomed  to  servitude, 
his  address  and  industry  raise  him  greatly  above  his  oppressor, 
so   that  he   supplies   himself  and  his  young  with  a  plentiful 


AMERICAN   OSrUEV. 


29 


sustenance.     His  docility  and  adroitness  in  catching  fish  have 
also  sometimes  been  employed  by  man  for  his  advantage. 

Intent  on  exploring  the  sea  for  his  food,  he  leaves  the  nest 
and  proceeds  tlirectly  to  the  scene  of  action,  sailing  round  in 
easy  and  wide  circles,  and  turning  at  times  as  on  a  |)ivot,  ap- 
parently without  exertion,  while  his  long  and  curving  wings 
seem  scarcely  in  motion.  At  the  height  of  from  one  hundred 
to  two  hundred  feet  he  continues  to  survey  the  bosom  of  the 
deep.  Suddenly  he  checks  his  course  and  hovers  in  the  air 
with  beating  pinions ;  he  then  descends  with  rapidity,  but  the 
wily  victim  has  escaped.  Now  he  courses  near  the  surface,  and 
by  a  dodging  descent,  scarcely  wetting  his  feet,  he  seizes  a  fish, 
which  he  sometimes  drops,  or  yiekls  to  the  greedy  Eagle ;  but, 
not  discouraged,  he  again  ascends  in  spiral  sweeps  to  regain 
the  higher  regions  of  the  air  and  renew  his  survey  of  the  watery 
expanse.  His  prey  again  espied,  he  descends  perpendicularly 
like  a  falling  plummet,  plunging  into  the  sea  with  a  loud,  rush- 
ing noise  and  with  an  unerring  aim.  In  an  instant  he  emerges 
with  the  struggling  prey  in  his  talons,  shakes  off  the  water 
from  his  feathers,  and  now  directs  his  laborious  course  to  land, 
beating  in  the  wind  with  all  the  skill  of  a  practised  seaman. 
The  fish  which  he  thus  carries  may  be  sometimes  from  six  to 
eight  pounds ;  and  so  firm  sometimes  is  the  penetrating  grasp 
of  his  talons  that  when  by  mistake  he  engages  with  one  which 
is  too  large,  he  is  dragged  beneath  the  waves,  and  at  length 
both  fish  and  bird  perish. 

From  the  nature  of  its  food,  the  flesh,  and  even  the  eggs,  are 
rendered  exceedingly  rank  and  nauseous.  Though  its  prey  is 
generally  taken  in  the  bold  and  spirited  manner  described,  an 
Osprey  sometimes  sits  on  a  tree  over  a  pond  for  an  hour  at 
a  time,  quietly  waiting  its  expected  approach. 

Unlike  other  rapacious  birds,  these  may  be  almost  con- 
sidered gregarious,  breeding  so  near  each  other  that,  accord- 
ing to  Mr.  G.u diner,  there  were  on  the  small  island  on  which 
he  resided,  near  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  Long  Island 
(New  York),  no  less  than  three  hundred  nests  with  young. 
Wilson  observed  twenty  of  their  nests  within  half  a  mile.  I 
have  seen  them  nearly  as  thick  about  Rehoboth  Bay  in  Dela- 


"f 


U  ii 


J 


!,'     ; 


i  '•  \ 


ill 


30 


BIRDS   OF  PREY, 


ware.  Here  they  live  together  at  least  as  peaceably  as  rooks ; 
and  so  harmless  are  they  considered  by  other  birds  that,  ac- 
cording to  Wilson,  the  Crow  Blackbirds,  or  Grakles,  are  some- 
times allowed  refuge  by  the  Ospreys,  and  construct  their  nests 
in  the  very  interstices  of  their  eyry.  It  would  appear  some- 
times that,  as  with  Swallows,  a  general  assistance  is  given  in 
the  constructing  of  a  new  nest ;  for  previous  to  this  event,  a 
flock  have  been  seen  to  assemble  in  the  same  tree,  squealing  as 
is  their  custom  when  anything  materially  agitates  thtin.  At 
times  they  are  also  seen  engaged  in  social  gambols  high  in  the 
air,  making  loud  vociferations,  suddenly  darting  down,  and  then 
sailing  in  circles;  and  these  innocent  recreations,  like  many 
other  unmeaning  things,  are  construed  into  prognostications  of 
stormy  or  changing  weather.  Their  common  friendly  call  is  a 
lind  of  shrill  whistle,  'phew,  'phew,  'phew,  repeated  five  or  six 
times,  and  somewhat  similar  to  the  tone  of  a  fife.  Though 
social,  they  are  sometimes  seen  to  combat  in  the  air,  instigated 
probably  more  by  jealousy  than  a  love  of  rapine,,  as  their  food 
is  always  obtained  from  an  unfailing  source. 

Early  in  May  the  Osprey  commences  laying,  and  has  from 
two  to  four  eggs.  They  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  the 
Common  Fowl,  and  are  from  a  reddish  or  yellowish  cream -color 
to  nearly  white,  marked  with  large  blotches  and  points  of 
reddish  brown.  During  the  period  of  incubation  the  male 
frequently  supplies  his  mate  with  food,  and  she  leaves  her  eggs 
for  very  short  intervals. 

The  young  appear  about  the  last  of  June,  and  are  most 
assiduously  attended  and  supplied.  On  the  approach  of  any 
person  towards  the  nest,  the  parent  utters  a  peculiar  plaintive, 
whistling  note,  which  increases  as  it  takes  to  wing,  sailing 
round,  and  at  times  making  a  quick  descent,  as  if  aiming  at 
the  intruder,  but  sweeping  past  at  a  short  distance.  On  the 
nest  being  invaded,  either  while  containing  eggs  or  young, 
the  male  displays  great  courage  and  makes  a  violent  and 
dangerous  opposition.  The  young  remain  a  long  time  in  the 
nest,  so  that  the  old  are  sometimes  obliged  to  thrust  them 
out  and  encourage  them  to  fly ;  but  they  still,  for  a  period,  con- 
tinue to  feed  them  in  the  air. 


AMERICAN    GOSHAWK. 

BLUE   HEN   HAWK. 
ACCIPITER   ATRICAPILLUS. 

Char.  Above,  dark  bluish  gray ;  lop  of  head  black,  the  feathers  be- 
neath the  surface  white ;  white  stripe  over  the  eye  :  tail  with  four  dark 
bands  ;  below,  white  barred  and  streaked  with  narrow  dark  lines.  Young 
very  different ;  above,  brown,  edges  of  feathers  huffish  ;  tail  lighter,  tipped 
with  white  and  crossed  by  four  or  five  dark  bands;  below,  buiiish,  streaked 
with  brown.    Length  22  to  24  inches. 

Nest.     In  a  tree  ;  made  of  twigs. 

A^.TJ-  3-4 ;  bluish  white,  with  buff  or  reddish  brown  markings  ;  2.30 
X  1.75- 

The  foreign  representative  of  this  elegant  and  spirited  spe- 
cies of  Hawk  appears  to  be  common  in  France,  Germany,  the 
northern  parts  of  Great  Britain,  Russia,  and  Siberia,  and  ex- 
tend- into  Chinese  Tartary.  Our  species,  so  nearly  related  to 
the  European  bird,  is  very  rare,  migrating  to  the  South  ap- 
parently at  the  approach  of  winter.  On  the  26  th  of  October, 
1830,  I  received  one  of  these  birds  from  the  proprietor  of 


Wi 


32 


BIRDS  OF   PREY. 


n. 


, 


St 


Fresh  Pond  Hotel,  in  the  moult,  having  the  stomach  crammed 
with  moles  and  mice,  and  it  was  shot  in  the  act  of  devouring 
a  Pigeon. 

Th^  Goshawk  was  held  in  considerable  esteem  for  falconry, 
raid,  according  to  Bell,  was  employed  for  this  amusement  by 
the  e  nperor  of  China,  who  moved  sometimes  to  these  excur- 
sions in  great  slate,  often  bearing  a  Hawk  on  his  hand,  to  let 
fiy  at  any  game  that  might  be  raised,  which  was  usually  Pheas- 
ants, Partridges,  Quails,  or  Cranes.  In  1269  Marco  Polo 
witnessed  this  diversion  of  the  emperor,  which  probably  had 
existed  for  many  ages  previous.  The  falconers  distinguished 
these  birds  of  sport  into  two  classes,  —  namely,  those  of  falconry 
properly  so  called,  and  those  of  hawking ;  and  in  this  second 
and  inferior  class  were  included  the  Goshawk,  the  Sparrow 
Hawk,  Buzzard,  and  Harpy.  This  species  does  not  soar  so  high 
as  the  longer-winged  Hawks,  and  darts  upon  its  quarry  by  a  side 
glance,  not  by  a  direct  descent,  like  the  true  Falcon.  These 
birds  were  caught  in  nets  baited  with  live  Pigeons,  and  reduced 
to  obedience  by  the  same  system  of  privation  and  discipline 
as  the  Falcon. 

A  pair  of  Goshawks  were  kept  for  a  long  time  in  a  cage  by 
Buflfun ;  he  remarks  that  the  female  was  at  least  a  third  larger 
than  the  male,  and  the  wings,  when  closed,  did  not  reach 
within  six  inches  of  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  male,  though 
smaller,  was  much  more  fierce  and  untamable.  They  often 
fought  with  their  claws,  but  seldom  used  the  bill  for  any  other 
purpose  than  tearing  their  food.  If  this  consisted  of  birds, 
they  were  plucked  as  neatly  as  by  the  hand  of  the  poulterer ; 
but  mice  were  swallowed  whole,  and  the  hair  and  skin,  and 
other  indigestible  parts,  after  the  manner  of  the  genus,  were 
discharged  from  the  mouth  rolled  up  in  little  balls.  Its  cry 
was  raucous,  and  terminated  by  sharp,  reiterated,  piercing 
notes,  the  more  disagreeable  the  oftener  they  were  repeated  ; 
and  the  cage  could  never  be  approached  without  exciting 
violent  gestures  and  screams.  Though  of  different  sexes,  and 
confined  to  the  same  cage,  they  contracted  no  friendship  for 
each  other  which  might  soothe  their  imprisonment,  and  finally. 


GOSHAWK. 


33 


to  end  the  dismal  picture,  the  female,  in  a  fit  of  indiscriminate 
rage  and  violence,  murdered  her  mate  in  the  silence  of  the 
night,  when  all  the  other  feathered  race  were  wrapped  in 
repose.  Indeed,  their  dispositions  are  so  furious  that  a  (los- 
hawk,  left  with  any  other  Falcons,  soon  eflects  the  destniction 
of  the  whole.  Their  ordinary  food  is  young  rabbits,  S(iuirrels, 
mice,  moles,  young  Geese,  Pigeons,  and  small  birils,  and,  with 
a  cannibal  appetite,  they  sometimes  even  prey  upon  the  young 
of  their  own  species. 

The  Goshawk  is  not  so  rare  in  America  as  the  older  naturalists 
supposed  ;  indeed,  it  is  quite  a  common  bird  in  the  maritime  Prov- 
inces of  Canada  and  in  northern  New  England,  where  it  is  found 
durinj;  the  entire  year.  It  occurs  also  west  to  Maniiol)a  (tiiough 
apparently  rare  in  the  Lake  Superior  region),  and  ranges,  in  winter, 
south  to  Maryland,  Kentucky,  and  Ohio. 

Its  usual  breeding  area  is  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the  fur 
countries;  though  a  few  pairs  probably  build  every  year  in  southern 
New  England.  So  few,  comparatively,  of  th.e  older  and  full-plu- 
maged  birds  are  seen  that  the  species  is  not  well  known,  the 
younger  brown  birds  being  almost  indistinguisliable  from  the 
young  of  several  other  Hawks. 

There  are  several  species  that  receive  the  name  of  "  Hen  Hawk  " 
from  the  farmer;  but  none  is  so  miicli  dreaded  as  the  ••  Hliie  Hawk." 
—  and  for  good  reason.  With  a  boKhiess,  strengtii,  and  dexterity  of 
flight  that  is  rivalled  only  by  the  Peregrine,  the  (loshawk  com- 
bines a  spirit  of  enterprise  worthy  of  the  Osprey,  and  a  ferocity 
and  cunning  that  are  unmatched  by  any  of  the  tribe.  I  have  seen 
one  swoop  into  a  farmyard  whih'  the  fowls  were  being  fed,  and 
carry  off  a  half-grown  cliick  without  any  perceptible  pause  in  the 
flight. 

VOL.  I.  —  -l 


ll 


I 


I 

It 


I 


tints 


iT'-"^.'";''  '''^  ■-• 


-v»n./^...-' 


COOPER'S   HAWK. 

ACCIPITER    COOPERI. 

Char.  Adult  bluish  gray  or  almost  bluish  ash,  head  darker  ;  below, 
whitish,  breast  and  belly  thickly  streaked  with  reddish  brown,  sides  with 
a  bluish  tinge;  wings  and  tail  barred  with  dark  brown,  tail  tippec'  vith 
white.  Length  about  i6  inches  (female  2  to  3  inches  longer). 
Nest.  In  a  tree,  near  the  trunk  ;  made  of  twigs,  lined  with  gias: 
^^yj.  3-4;  bluish  white  spotted  with  reddish  brown  (sometimes  im- 
maculate) ;  1.90  X  1.50. 

Thi?  Hne  species  of  Hawk  is  found  in  considerable  numbers 
in  the  Middle  States,  particularly  New  York  and  New  Jersey, 
in  the  autumn  and  at  the  approach  of  winter.  It  is  also 
seen  in  the  Oregon  territory  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Its 
food  appears  principally  to  be  birds  of  various  kinds ;  from 
the  Sparrow  to  the  Ruffed  Grouse,  all  contribute  to  its  rapa- 
cious appetite.  I  have  also  seen  this  species  as  far  south  as 
the  capital  of  Alabama,  and,  in  common  with  the  preceding, 
its  depredations  among  the  domestic  fowls  are  very  destructive. 
Mr.  Cooper  informs  me  that  the  plumage  of  the  adult  male 
bears  the  same  analogy  to  the  adult  of  F.  fiiscus  as  the  young 
of  that  species  does  to  the  present,  excepting  that  the  rufous 


SHARP-SHINNED  HAWK. 


35 


etimes  im- 


tints  are  paler.     The  difference  in  size  between  the  two  is  as 
2,  or  even  3,  to  i. 

Cooper's  Hawk  is  generally  distributed  throughout  North  Amer- 
ica from  the  fur  countries  to  Mexico  (in  winter),  though  most 
abundant  in  the  southern  portions  of  New  England  and  in  tlie 
Middle  States. 

It  is  called  "  Chicken  Hawk  "  by  the  Northern  farmers. 


SHARP-SHINNED    HAWK. 

ACCII'ITER   VELOX. 

Char.  The  adult  may  be  best  described  as  a  small  edition  of 
Cooper's  Hawk,  which  it  resembles  in  almost  everything  but  size.  The 
top  of  the  head  is  bluish,  and  the  cheeks  have  a  reddish  tinge.  Length 
of  male  about  11  inches  ;  female  some  2  inches  longer. 

Nest.     In  a  tree;  made  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  leaves  and  grass. 

E'Ki^s.  3-5 ;  bluish  white  or  greenish  white  blotched  with  brown  ; 
1.45  X  MS- 

This  bold  and  daring  species  possesses  all  the  courageous 
habits  and  temerity  of  the  true  Falcon ;  and  if  the  princely 
amusement  to  which  these  birds  were  devoted  was  now  in 
fashion,  few  species  of  the  genus  would  be  found  more  san- 
guinary and  pugnacious  than  the  present.  The  young  bird  is 
described  by  Pennant  under  the  name  of  the  Dubious  Falcv^n, 
and  he  remarks  its  affinity  to  the  European  Sparrow  Hawk. 
It  is,  however,  somewhat  less,  differently  marked  on  the  head, 
and  much  more  broadly  and  faintly  barred  below.  The  nest 
of  our  species,  according  to  Audubon,  is  made  in  a  tree,  and  the 
eggs  are  four  or  five,  grayish  white,  blotched  with  dark  brown  ; 
they  lay  about  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  Marcn.  The 
true  Sparrow  Hawk  shows  considerable  docility,  is  easily  trained 
to  hunt  Partridges  and  Quails,  and  makes  great  destruction 
among  Pigeons,  yoimg  poultry,  and  small  birds  of  all  kinds. 
In  the  winter  they  migrate  from  Europe  into  Barbary  and 
Greece,  and  are  seen  in  great  numbers  out  at  sea,  making  such 
havoc  among  the  birds  of  passage  they  happen  to  meet  in 
their  way  that  the  sailors  in  the  Mediterranean  call  them 
Corsairs.     Wilson  observeil  the  female  of  our  species  descend 


**•:,,' 


i  '.'  K ) 


36 


BIRDS   OF   PREV. 


upon  its  prey  with  great  velocity  in  a  so-  ot  /igsa^^  pounce, 
after  the  manner  of  the  Goshawk.  I  )escending  furiously  and 
blindly  upon  its  quarry,  a  young  Hawk  of  this  species  broke 
through  the  glass  of  the  greenhouse  at  the  Cambridge  Botanic 
Garden,  and  fearlessly  passing  through  a  second  gl;  ss  parti- 
tion, he  was  only  brought  up  by  the  third,  and  caught,  though 
little  stunned  by  the  effort.  His  wing-feathers  were  much  torn 
by  the  glass,  and  his  flight  in  this  way  so  impeded  as  to  allow 
of  his  being  approached.  This  species  feeds  principally  upon 
mice,  lizards,  small  birds,  and  sometimes  even  squirrels.  In 
the  thinh'  settled  States  of  Georgia  and  Alabama  this  Hawk 
seems  to  aoound,  and  proves  extremely  destructive  to  young 
chickens,  a  single  bird  having  been  known  regularly  to  come 
every  day  until  he  had  carried  away  between  twenty  and  thirty. 
At  noon-day,  while  I  was  conversing  with  a  planter,  one  of  these 
Hawks  came  down,  and  without  any  ceremony,  or  heeding  the 
loud  cries  of  the  housewife,  who  most  reluctantly  witnessed  the 
robbery,  snatched  away  a  chicken  directly  before  us.  At  an- 
other time,  near  Tuscaloosa,  in  Alabama,  i  observed  a  pair  of 
these  birds  furiously  attr  '  the  large  Reci-lailed  Hawk,  squall- 
ing very  loudly,  and  striking  him  on  the  head  until  they  had 
entirely  chased  him  out  of  sight.  This  enmity  appeared  to 
arise  from  a  suspicion  that  the  Buzzard  was  prowling  round 
the  farm-house  for  th'^  noultry,  which  these  Hawks  seemed  to 
claim  as  their  exch.  m  ;,  perquisite.  As  this  was,  however,  the 
13th  of  P'ebruary,  tht'^ie  insulting  marauders  might  possibly  be 
already  preparing  to  breed,  and  thus  be  incited  to  drive  away 
every  suspicious  intruder  approaching  their  nest.  In  fine 
weather  I  have  observed  this  species  soar  to  a  great  elevation, 
and  ascend  above  the  clouds.  In  this  exercise,  as  usual,  the 
wings  seem  but  little  exercised,  the  ascent  being  made  in  a 
sort  of  swimming  gyration ;  though  while  near  the  surface  of 
the  earth  the  motion  of  the  wings  in  this  bird  is  rapid  and 
continuous. 

The  Sharp-shinned  is  the  commonest  Mawk  throughout  New 
England  and  the  settled  portions  of  Canada.  In  winter  it  ranges 
south  t'l  Panama. 


MISSISSIPPI   KITE. 

BLUE   KITE. 

ICTINA    MlSSISSIPPIEXSIS, 

Char.     General  color  biuish-gmy,  lighter  oa  the  head  and  secom  :» 
ries,  darker  on  primaries  and  tiiil.     Length,  13  to  I5V^  inches. 
A^ist.     On  a  tree  ,  of  small  sticks,  lined  with  moss  ami  leaves. 
Es^rirj.     2-3;  bluish  white;  size  variable,  averaging  1.65  X  1.35. 

This  remarkably  long-winged  and  beautiful  Hawk  does  nal 
appear  to  extend  its  migrations  far  within  the  United  States. 
Wilson  observed  it  rather  plentiful  about  and  below  Natciu^ 
in  the  summer  season,  sailing  in  easy  circles,  sometimes  at 
a  great  elevation,  so  as  to  keep  company  with  the  'I'urkcy 
Buzzards  in  the  most  elevated  regions  of  the  air  ;  at  other  times 
they  were  seen  among  the  lofty  forest  trees,  like  Swallows 
sweeping  along,  and  collecting  the  locusts  {Ciait/u')  which 
swarmed  at  this  season.  My  friend  Mr.  Say  observed  this 
species  pretty  far  up  the  Mississii)iM,  at  one  of  Major  Long's 
cantonments.  But  except  on  the  banks  of  this  great  river, 
it  is  rarely  seen  eve     in  the  most  southern  States.     Its  food, 


38 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


no  doubt,  abounds  more  along  the  imn^ense  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi than  in  the  interior  regions,  and,  besides  large  in- 
sects, probably  often  consists  of  small  birds,  li/ards,  snakes, 
and  other  reptiles,  which  swarm  in  these  their  favorite  resorts. 
On  the  failure  of  food  these  birds  migrate  by  degrees  into  the 
Mexican  and  South  American  provinces,  and  were  observed 
by  D'Azara  in  Guiana,  about  the  latitude  of  7®.  According  to 
Audubon,  this  Kite  breeds  in  the  Southern  States  as  well  as 
in  Texas,  selecting  the  tail  magnolias  and  white-oaks.  From 
the  narrow  limits  within  which  this  bird  inhabits  in  the  United 
States,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  principal  part  of  the 
3l)ecies  are  constant  residents  in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent.     They  begin  to  migrate  early  in  August. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  given  as  "southern  United  States 
southward  from  South  Carolina,  and  Wisconsin  and  Iowa  to 
Mt*xico." 


WHITE-TAILED   KITE. 

BLACK-SnOULDEKED   KITE. 
P2LAXUS    LF.UCURUS. 

(  HAR.  General  color  bluish  gray  fading  to  white  on  head  and  tail ;  a 
large  patch  of  black  on  shoulder  ;  lower  parts  white.  Length  15  to  16^ 
inches. 

AVjA     In  a  tree,  loosely  built  of  sticks  and  leaves. 

£i,''gs.    2-4;  dull  white,  heavily  blotched  with  brown,  1.60  x  1.25. 

This  beautiful  Hawk,  scarcely  distinguishable  from  a  second 
A^Mcan  species  of  this  section,  chiefly  inhabits  the  continent 
of  .^nuth  America  as  far  as  Paraguay.  In  the  United  States  it 
•  ■  0 :.y  seen  occasionally  in  the  peninsula  of  East  Florida,  con- 
fniing  its  visits  almost  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Union. 
It  appears  to  be  very  shy  and  difficult  of  approach  ;  flying  in 
easy  circles  at  a  moderate  elevation,  or  at  times  seated  on  the 
deadened  branches  of  the  majestic  live-oak,  it  attentively 
watches  the  borders  of  the  salt-marshes  and  water)'  situations 


—j^i 


SWALLOW-TAILED   KITL. 


39 


for  the  field-mice  of  that  country,  or  unwary  Sparrows,  that 
approach  its  perch.  The  bird  of  Africa  and  India  is  said  to 
utter  a  sharp  and  piercing  try,  which  is  often  repeated  while 
the  bird  moves  in  the  air.  It  builds,  m  the  forks  of  trees,  a 
broad  and  shallow  nest,  lined  internally  with  moss  ami  feathers. 
A  pair  have  been  known  to  breed  on  the  Santee  River  in  the 
month  of  March,  according  to  Audubon. 

This  Kite  occurs  regularly  in  the  Southern  States,  north  to 
South  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Ridgway  has  met  witli  it  in  southern 
Illinois.     It  extends  its  range  westward  to  California. 


SWALLOW-TAILED   KITE. 

FORK-TAILED    KITE. 
El.ANOII)KS    FORFICATU.S. 

Char.  Head,  neck,  rump,  and  lower  jiarts  white,  other  parts  black  ; 
tail  deeply  forked.     Length  19 '2  to  25^  inches. 

AVjA     In  a  tree  ,  of  sticks  and  moss,  lined  with  grass  and  leaves. 

i^^i.r^'-j.  2-3  ;  white,  w  ith  buff  or  green  tinge,  spotted  with  various  shades 
of  brown  ;  1.85  X  1.50 

This  beautiful  Kite  breeds  and  passes  the  summer  in  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  is  also  probably  resi- 
dent in  all  tropical  and  temperate  America,  migrating  into  the 
southern  as  well  as  the  northern  hemisphere.  In  the  former, 
according  to  Viellot,  it  is  found  in  Peru  and  as  far  as  Buenos 
.\yres ;  and  though  it  is  extremely  rare  to  meet  with  this 
species  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  40°  in  the  Atlantic  States, 
yet,  tempted  by  the  abundance  of  the  fruitful  valley  of  the 
Mississippi,  individuals  have  been  seen  along  that  river  as 
far  as  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  in  the  44th  degree  of  north 
latitude.  Indeed,  according  to  Fleming  two  stragglers  have 
even  found  their  devious  way  to  the  strange  climate  of  Great 
Britain. 

These  Kites  ai)])ear  in  the  United  States  about  the  clo.ie  of 
Aj^ril  or  beginning  of  May,  and  are  very  numerous  in  the  Mis- 


M 
•1  ' 

'  if  I 


-n 


n 


41 
I 


40 


BIRDS   OF    TREY. 


11 


sissippi  territory,  twenty  or  thirty  being  sometimes  \isil)le  at 
the  same  time;  often  collecting  locusts  and  other  large  insects, 
which  they  are  said  to  feed  on  from  their  claws  while  flying, 
at  times  also  seizing  ujjon  the  nests  of  locusts  and  wasps,  and, 
like  the  Honey  iluzzard,  devouring  both  the  insects  and  their 
larvai.  vSnakes  and  lizards  are  their  common  fo.xl  in  all  parts 
of  America.  In  the  month  of  (October  they  begin  to  retire  to 
the  South,  at  wliich  season  Mr.  Hartram  obser^^ed  them  in 
great  numbers  assembled  in  Floriila,  soaring  steadily  at  great 
elevations  for  several  days  in  succession,  and  slowly  passing 
tovvards  their  winter  ([uarters  along  the  dulf  of  Mexico.  I'Vom 
the  other  States  they  migrate  early  in  September. 

This  species  is  most  abundant  in  the  western  (livision  of  the  Gulf 
States,  hut  is  irregularly  distributed  over  the  Southern,  VVcstern, 
and  Middle  States.  It  has  occasionally  visited  New  Kngland,  and 
examples  have  been  seen  in  Manitoba  and  near  London  and 
Ottawa  in  Ontario. 


EVERGLADE    KITE. 

BLACK   KITE.     HOOK-BILL   KITE.     SN.ML   H.WVK. 
R(  ISTRHAML'S   SOClAinLI.S. 

Chak.  Prevailing  color  dull  bluish  ash,  darker  on  tail,  wings,  and  an- 
terior portion  of  head  ;  rump  white,  wiUi  terminal  bar  of  light  brown  ; 
bill  l)lack  ;  feet  orange.     Length  i6  to  iS  inches. 

A\-sf.  A  platform  with  a  slight  depression,  composed  of  sticks  or  dried 
grass,  built  in  a  low  bush  or  amid  tal!  grass. 

Ei;,i,'s.  2-3;  brownish  while  blotched  with  various  shades  o*"  brown ; 
1.70  X  I  45- 

This  is  a  tropical  species  that  occurs  in  Florida.  Mr.  W.  E.  D. 
Scott  reports  finding  it  abundant  at  Panasofkcc  Lake,  and  says ; 
"  Their  food  at  this  poitit  apparently  consists  of  a  kind  of  large 
fresh-water  snail  which  is  very  abundant.  .  .  .  They  fish  over  the 
shallow  water,  reminding  one  of  gulls  in  their  motions;  and  having 
secured  a  snail  by  diving,  they  immediately  carrv  it  to  the  nearest 
available  perch,  when  the  animal  is  dexterously  taken  from  the 
shell,  without  injury  to  the  latter." 


•^?. 


AMERICAN    ROUGH-LEGGKD    HAWK. 

BLACK   HAWK. 
ArCHIP.UTF.O  LAG(JPUS  sancti-johaxxls. 

Char.  General  color  variable,  —  dark  or  light  brown,  or  brownish  gray, 
somclimes  black  ;  all  the  feathers  edged  w^th  lighter  color,  i)rodiiciiig  an 
ai)i)carancc  of  streaks.  The  absence  of  these  streaks  on  the  belly  forms 
a  dark  band.  Tail  with  dark  and  light  bars,  and  wliitish  at  its  base. 
Easily  distinguished  from  any  other  Hawk  by  the  feathered  shank.  Length 
19)^  to  22  inches. 

AV.f/  In  a  large  tree,  or  on  rocks  ;  of  sticks  lined  with  grass,  dry 
moss,  and  feathers. 

It'^'^'s.     2-3;  white  or  cream\ ,  more  or  less  spotted  with  brown;  190 

X  i.ss- 

This  remarkal)le  species  of  Buzzard  appears  to  take  up  its 
residence  chiefly  in  the  northern  and  western  wilds  of  .\merica. 
My  friend  Mr.  Townsend  found  its  nest  on  the  banks  of  Hear 
River,  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  nest,  formed  of 
large  sticks,  was  in  a  thick  willow  bush  r.bout  ten  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  contained  two  young  almost  fledf^'ed.     It  is 


■ 


42 


lUKDS   OV    TREY. 


snitl  to  lay  four  i'};gs,  <  loiulcd  with  reddish.  It  is  common 
also  to  the  north  of  Europe,  if  not  to  Africa.  The  usual  station 
of  these  birds  is  on  the  outskirts  of  woods,  in  the  neighlxjrhood 
of  marshes,  —  situations  suited  for  supplying  them  with  their 
usual  humble  prey  of  frogs,  mice,  n-ptiles,  and  straggling  birds, 
for  which  they  patientl)  watch  for  hours  together,  from  daybreak 
to  late  twilight.  When  i)rey  is  jjerceived,  the  bird  takes  a  <au- 
tious,  slow,  circuitous  course  near  the  surface,  and  sweeping  over 
the  spot  where  the  objec  t  of  ])ursuit  is  lurking,  he  instantly 
grapples  it,  and  flies  oil  to  consume  it  at  leistjre.  Occasionally 
they  feeil  on  crabs  and  lihell-fish.  The  inclement  winters  of 
the  high  northern  regions,  where  they  are  ustially  bretl,  failing 
to  aflord  them  food,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  making  a 
slow  migration  towards  those  c>)untries  which  are  less  severe. 
.According  to  \\'ilson,  nt)  less  than  from  twenty  to  thirty  young 
individuals  of  this  species  continued  regularly  to  take  up  their 
winter  quarters  in  the  low  meadows  below  Philadelphia.  They 
are  never  observed  to  soar,  ami  when  disturbed,  utter  a  loud, 
squealing  note,  ami  only  pass  from  one  neighbor ing  tree  to 
another. 

The  great  variation  in  the  plumage  of  this  Hawk  has  been  the 
cause  of  consideralilo  controversy.  Wilson  wrote  of  the  black  and 
the  brown  phases  as  of  two  species,  giving  them  distinct  habits. 
Nuttall.  following  Audubon,  considered  the  changes  from  light  to 
dark  due  only  to  age.  Spencer  Haird  (in  1S58),  Cassin,  and  Dr. 
Brewer  agreed  with  Wilson.  Later  authorities,  however,  with 
more  material  to  aid  them,  have  pronounced  both  views  incorrect, 
and  have  decided  that  Miere  is  but  one  species,  —  that  the  black  is 
but  a  melanistic  phase.  Our  systematists  now  separate  the  Ameri- 
can from  the  European  form,  giving  to  the  former  varietal  rank, 
as  its  ••  trinomial  appellation  "  denotes. 

Nuttall  does  not  mention  the  occurrence  of  this  bird  in  Massa- 
chusetts, tiiough  Dr.  Brewer  states  that  at  one  time  it  was  abun- 
dant near  Boston,  and  within  more  recent  years  numbers  have  been 
captured  by  .Mr.  K.  O.  Damon  on  the  Holyoke  HilKs,  near  Spring- 
field. It  occurs  within  the  United  States  principally  as  a  winter 
visitor,  its  chief  breeding-ground  lying  in  the  Labrador  and  Hudson 
Bay  district. 


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J-' 
RED-SHOULDKRi:!)    HAWK. 

WINTER    HAWK. 
BUTF.O    LINKAIL'S. 

Char.  Adult :  general  color  dark  reddish  brown  ;  head  and  neck  ru- 
fous :  below,  lighter,  with  dark  streaks  and  light  bars  ,  wings  and  tail 
black  with  white  bars  ;  lesser  wing-coverts  chestnut.  Voung,  with  little 
of  the  rufous  tinge  .  below,  buffy  with  dark  streaks,  Length  19  to  22 
inches. 

yVt'-f/.  In  a  tree ;  of  loo.scly  arranged  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

£i,[!;s.     2-4  ;  bluish  white  or  buffy  blotched  with  brown  ;  2.20  X  1.70. 

This  very  elegant  Hawk  does  not  migrate  or  inhabit  very 
far  to  the  north.  It  is  never  seen  in  Massachusetts,  nor  per- 
haps much  farther  than  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the 
Southern  States,  during  winter,  these  birds  are  very  common  in 
swampy  situations,  where  their  quailing  cry  of  mutual  recogni- 
tion may  be  heard  from  the  depths  of  the  dark  forest  almost 


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44 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


every  morning  of  the  season.  This  plaintive  echoing  note 
resembles  somewhat  tlic  garrulous  complaint  of  the  Jay,  kee-oo, 
kee-oo,  kee-oo,  continued  with  but  little  intermission  sometimes 
for  near  twenty  minutes.  At  length  it  becomes  loud  and  im- 
patient ;  but  on  being  distantly  answered  by  the  mate,  the 
sound  softens  and  becomes  plaintive  like  kee-oo.  This  morn- 
ing call  is  uttered  most  loudly  and  incessantly  by  the  male, 
inquiring  for  his  adventurous  mate,  whom  the  uncertain  result 
of  the  chase  has  perhaps  separated  from  him  for  the  night. 
As  this  species  is  noways  shy,  and  very  easily  approached,  I 
have  had  the  opportunity  of  studying  it  closely.  At  length, 
but  in  no  haste,  I  observed  the  female  approach  and  take  her 
station  on  the  same  lofty,  decayed  limb  with  her  companion, 
who,  grateful  for  this  attention,  plumed  the  feathers  of  his 
mate  with  all  the  assiduous  fondness  of  a  Dove.  Intent  upon 
her  meal,  however,  she  soon  flew  off  to  a  distance,  while  the 
male  still  remained  on  his  perch,  dressing  up  his  beautiful 
feathers  for  near  half  an  hour,  often  shaking  his  tail,  like  some 
of  the  lesser  birds,  and  occasionally  taking  an  indifferent  sur- 
vey of  the  hosts  of  small  chirping  birds  which  surrounded  him, 
who  followed  without  alarm  their  occupation  of  gleaning  seeds 
and  berries  for  subsistence.  I  have  occasionally  observed 
them  perched  on  low  bushes  and  stakes  in  the  rice-fields,  re- 
maining thus  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  then  darting  after 
their  prey  as  it  comes  in  sight.  I  saw  one  descend  upon  a 
Plover,  as  I  thought,  and  Wilson  remarks  their  living  on  these 
birds,  Larks,  and  Sandpipers.  The  ^nme  pair  that  I  watched 
also  hung  on  the  rear  of  a  flock  of  cow-buntings  which  were 
feeding  and  scratching  around  thei...  They  sometimes  attack 
squirrels,  as  I  have  been  informed,  and  Wilson  charges  them 
with  preying  also  upon  Ducks. 

I  never  observed  them  to  soar,  at  least  in  winter,  their  time 
being  passed  very  much  in  indolence  and  in  watching  for 
their  game.  Their  flight  is  almost  as  easy  and  noiseless  as 
that  of  the  Owl.  In  the  early  part  of  the  month  of  March 
they  were  breeding  in  West  Florida,  and  seemed  to  choose 
the  densest  thickets  and  not  to  build  at  any  great  height  from 


RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK. 


45 


the  ground.     On  approaching  these  places,  the  kee-oo  became 
very  loud  and  angry. 

Winter  Hawk.  —  This  large  American  Buzzard  is  not  un- 
common in  this  vicinity,  as  well  as  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Philadelphia,  where  Wilson  met  with  it  along  the  marshes  and 
meadows,  feeding  almost  wholly  upon  frogs.  It  is  abundant 
toward  winter.  It  appears  to  have  very  much  the  manners 
of  the  European  Buzzard,  remaining  inactive  for  hours  to- 
gether on  the  edges  of  wet  meadows,  perched  upon  the  larger 
limbs  of  trees,  and  at  times  keeping  up  a  regular  quailing  and 
rather  hoarse  keigh-oo^  keigh-oo,  which  at  intervals  is  answered 
by  the  mate.  When  approached,  it  commonly  steals  off  to 
some  other  tree  at  no  great  distance  from  the  first ;  but  if 
the  pursuit  be  ^r*"*inued,  it  flies  out  and  hovers  at  a  consider- 
able height.  ,  IS  also  an  inhabitant  of  Hudson's  Bay  and 
Newfoundland. 

Nuttall  regarded  the  old  and  young  as  distinct  species,  giving 
to  them  not  only  distinctive  names,  but  a  different  distribution. 
Taken  together,  his  two  biographies  telJ  about  all  that  is  yet  known 
of  the  habits  and  range  of  the  speciefi.  it  is  found  throughout  this 
faunal  province,  from  the  Gulf  States  to  the  southern  border  of  the 
fur  countries,  has  been  taken  at  York  Factory  on  Hudson's  Bay, 
and  is  common  in  Manitoba. 


Note.  —  The  Florida  Red-Shouldered  Hawk  {Buteo  linea- 
tus  alleni)  is  a  Southern  form  restricted  to  Florida  and  Texas. 
It  differs  from  true  lineatus  in  having  the  rufous  tinge  on  the 
head  and  neck  replaced  by  brownish  gray. 


i 

11 


46  BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


HARRIS'S   HAWK. 

PaRABUIEO   UNICINCTUS   HARRISI. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  black,  sometimes  chocolate  brown,  tinged  with 
chestnut  on  the  rump ;  shoulders  and  lining  of  wings  chestnut ;  tail-coverts, 
base  of  tail,  and  terminal  band,  white.     Length  about  20  inches. 

Nest.  On  a  cliff  or  in  a  tree,  —  usually  the  latter;  a  mere  platform  of 
twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  grass. 

E};^iis.  2-5  (usually  3) ;  white,  tinged  with  yellow,  sometimes  marked 
with  brown  or  lavender,  or  both  ,  2.15  X  1.65. 

Harris's  Hawk  is  abundant  in  parts  of  Texas  and  in  Mexico, 
and  occurs  in  .small  numbers  in  th*  southern  part  of  Mississippi. 
It  is  usually  represented  as  a  rather  sluggish  bird,  associating  with 
the  Vultures  and  joining  in  their  feasts  of  carrion,  but  sometimes 
preying  upon  the  small  reptiles  that  infest  the  banks  6f  streams 
ard  pools.  Mr.  Sennett,  however,  describes  those  he  saw  along 
the  lower  Rio  Grande  as  more  active,  feeding  chiefly  on  birds, 
mice,  and  gophers. 


RED-TAILEr    HAW] 

BUIEO    DOREALIS. 


Char.  Above,  dull  brown  streaked  with  rufous  and  grayish ;  below, 
whitish  or  tawny  streaked  with  brown ;  tail  chestnut  above  and  gray 
beneath,  with  a  band  of  black  near  the  end  and  tipped  with  white.  In 
the  young  the  tail  is  grayish  brown  crossed  by  some  nine  dark  bars, 
and  the  underparts  are  white  with  brown  streaks.  Length  19^  to  23 
inches. 

N^est.  In  a  high  tree;  of  sticks,  lined  with  grass,  sometimes  with 
feathers. 

Egs^s.  2-4 ;  whitish  or  bluish  white,  usually  heavily  spotted  or  blotched 
with  reddish  brown;  2  30  X  1.80. 

This  beautiful  Buzzard  inhabits  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  being  observed  from  Canada  to  Florida;  also,  far 
westward  up  the  Missouri,  and  even  on  the  coasts  of  the 
northern  Pacific  Ocean,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke.  Wilson  found 
the  young  to  be  fully  grown  in  the  month  of  May,  about 
latitude  31°  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi;  at  this  period 
they  were  very  noisy  and  clamorous,  keeping  up  an  inces- 
sant squealing.     It  also  occasionally  nests  and  breeds  in  large 


nged  with 
,il-coverts, 

latform  of 

:s  marked 

Mexico, 
ssissippi. 
iting  with 
ometimes 
f  streams 
aw  along 
on  birds, 

^  h  o3 

h ;  below, 
and  gray 
white.  In 
dark  bars, 
19}4  to  23 

imes  with 

tr  blotched 

e  United 
also,  far 
;s  of  the 
on  found 
ly,  about 
is  period 
an  inces- 
s  in  large 


RED-TAILED   HAWK. 


47 


trees  in  the  secluded  forests  of  this  part  of  Massachusetts. 
The  young  birds  soon  become  very  submissive,  and  allow  them- 
selves to  be  handled  with  impunity  by  those  who  feed  them. 
The  older  birds  sometimes  contest  with  each  other  in  the  air 
about  their  prey,  and  nearly  or  wholly  descend  to  the  earth 
grappled  in  each  other's  talons.     Though  this  species  has  the 
general  aspect  of  the  Buzzard,  its  manners  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  the  Goshawk ;   it   is  equally  fierce  and  predatory, 
prowling  around   the   farm   often   when  straitened   for  food, 
and  seizing,  now  and  then,  a  hen  or  chicken,  which  it  snatches 
by  making  a  lateral  approach  :  it  sweeps  along  near  the  sur- 
face of  the  ground,  and  grasping  its  prey  in  its  talons,  bears  it 
away  to  devour  in  some  place  of  security.    These  depredations 
on  the  farm-yard  happen,  however,  only  in  the  winter ;  at  all 
other   seasons   this   is   one   of  the  shyest  and  most  difficult 
birds  to  approach.     It  will  at  times  pounce  upon  rabbits  and 
considerable-sized   birds,   particularly    Larks,    and    has   been 
observed    in    the    Southern    States    perseveringly    to    pursue 
squirrels  from  bough  to  bough  until  they  are  overtaken  and 
seized  in  the  talons.     It  is  frequently  seen  near  wet  meadows 
where  mice,  moles,  and  frogs  are  prevalent,  and  also  feeds 
upon  lizards,  —  appearing,    indeed,   often   content   with   the 
most  humble  game. 

They  usually  associate  in  pairs,  and  seem  much  attached  to 
each  other ;  yet  they  often  find  it  convenient  and  profitable  to 
separate  in  hunting  their  prey,  about  which  they  would  readily 
quarrel  if  brought  into  contact.  Though  a  gcod  deal  of  their 
time  passes  in  indolence,  while  perched  in  some  tall  and  dead- 
ened tree,  yet  at  others  they  may  be  seen  beating  the  ground 
as  they  fly  over  it  in  all  directions  in  quest  of  game.  On  some 
occasions  they  amuse  themselves  by  ascending  to  a  vast  eleva- 
tion, like  the  aspiring  Eagle.  On  a  fine  evening,  about  the 
middle  of  January,  in  South  Carolina,  I  observed  one  of  these 
birds  leave  its  withered  perch,  and  soaring  aloft  over  the  wild 
landscape,  in  a  mood  of  contemplation,  begin  to  ascend 
towards  the  thin  skirting  of  elevated  clouds  above  him.  At 
length  he  passed  this  sublime  boundary,  and  was  now  per- 


,i 


i  ■  \ 


i 


48 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


ceived  and  soon  followed  by  his  ambitions  mate,  and  in  a  little 
time,  by  circular  ascending  gyrations,  they  both  disappeared  in 
the  clear  azure  of  the  heavens ;  and  though  I  waited  for  their 
re-appearance  half  an  hour,  they  still  continued  to  be  wholly 
invisible.  This  amusement,  or  predilection  for  the  cooler 
regions  of  the  atmosphere,  seems  more  or  less  common  to  all 
the  rapacious  birds.  In  numerous  instances  this  exercise  must 
be  wholly  independent  of  the  inclination  for  surveying  their 
prey,  as  few  of  them  besides  the  Falcon  descend  direct  upon 
their  quarry.  Many,  as  well  as  the  present  species,  when  on 
the  prowl  fly  near  to  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  often  wait 
and  watch  so  as  to  steal  upon  their  victims  before  they  can 
take  the  alarm.  Indeed  the  Condor  frequents  and  nests  upon 
the  summit  of  the  Andes,  above  which  they  are  seen  to  soar 
in  the  boundless  ocean  of  space,  enjoying  the  invigorating  and 
rarefied  atmosphere,  and  only  descending  to  the  plains  when 
impelled  by  the  cravings  of  hunger. 

The  Eastern  variety  of  the  Red-tail  is  a  common  bird  through- 
out eastern  North  America  north  to  about  latitude  49°,  and  was 
taken  by  Dr.  Bell  at  Fort  Churchill,  on  Hudson's  Bay.  It  ranges 
westward  to  the  Great  Plains,  where  it  is  replaced  by  the  sub- 
species krideri.  From  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Pacific  it  is 
represented  by  calunis,  and  examples  of  this  latter  variety  have 
been  taken,  occasionally,  as  far  east  as  Illinois.  The  Red-tail  is  a 
summer  resident  only  of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  a  few  are 
found  in  winter  in  southern  Ontario  and  New  England. 


Note.  —  Mr.  Ridgway  now  considers  Harlan's  Hawk  to  be 
a  variety  of  the  Red-tail,  and  he  proposes  to  name  it  Buteo  borealis 
harlani.    Its  usual  habitat  is  along  the  lower  Mississippi ;  but  exam 
pies  have  been  taken  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Pennsylvania,  and  Georgia. 

Two  examples  of  Swainson's  Hawk  [Buteo  swainsoni)^  a 
Western  species,  have  been  taken  in  Massachusetts,  —  one  at 
VVayland  in  1876,  and  the  other  near  Salem  in  1878. 


a  little 
iired  in 
jr  their 
wholly 
cooler 
n  to  all 
se  must 
ig  their 
ct  upon 
,rhen  on 
ten  wait 
hey  can 
sts  upon 
1  to  soar 
ting  and 
ns  when 


through- 

and  was 

It  ranges 

the  sub- 

ific  it  is 

^ety  have 

tail  is  a 

few  are 


|wK  to  be 

borealis 

)ut  exam- 

iGeorgia. 

\isoni\  a 

one  at 


BROAD-WINGED   HAWK. 

BUTEO   LATISSIMUS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  brown,  the  feathers  with  paler  edges ;  tail  brown 
with  four  light  bars  and  tipped  with  white ;  below,  huffish  or  tawny, 
barred  and  streaked  with  rufous  ;  wings  short  and  broad.  Length  13^  to 
15  inches. 

Nes:.  In  a  tree ;  loosely  built  of  twigs,  and  lined  with  leaves  and 
feathers. 

Eggs.  2-4 ;  huffish,  blotched  with  reddish  brown  of  various  shades  ; 
1.90  X  1.55. 

This  species  was  obtained  by  Wilson,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia,  in  the  act  of  feeding  on  a  meadow-mouse.  On 
being  approached,  it  uttered  a  whining  whistle  and  flew  to 
another  tree,  where  it  was  shot.  Its  great  breadth  of  wing,  as 
well  as  of  the  head  and  body,  compared  with  its  length,  ap- 
pears remarkably  characteristic.  The  following  day  the  mate 
was  observed  sailing  in  wide  circles,  the  wings  scarcely  moving, 
and  presenting  almost  a  semi-circular  outline.  These  two  in- 
dividuals appear  to  be  all  that  were  known  to  Wilson  of  this 
VOL.  I.  —  4 


ii 


I 


! 


'si 


t-J' 


50 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


species.  Audubon  considers  it  by  no  means  a  rare  species 
in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  all  the  States  to  the  eastward  of 
these.  Its  usual  prey  is  small  birds,  very  youn^'  poultry,  small 
quadrupeds,  and  insects. 

The  Broad-wing  occurs  throughout  this  eastern  faunal  province, 
but  is  .somewhat  local  in  distribution.  In  portions  of  the  Maritime 
Provinces  it  is  abundant,  though  in  general  it  is  rather  uncommon. 
Mr.  John  Neilson  considers  it  common  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  but 
Mr.  Ernest  Wintle  reports  it  rare  at  Montreal,  while  Mr.  William 
L.  Scott  thinks  it  the  commonest  Hawk  in  the  Ottawa  valley.  Mr. 
Thomas  Mcllwraith  gives  it  as  a  "casual  visitor"  to  the  southern 
portions  of  Ontario,  and  Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  found  it  abundant 
in  the  Muskoka  district.  Thompson  also  reports  it  common  in 
Manitoba. 

In  the  more  northern  portions  of  New  England  it  is  a  fairly 
common  summer  visitor,  while  it  is  found  in  Massachusetts  and 
Connecticut  throughout  the  year,  but  is  rather  rare.  It  occurs 
also  in  more  or  less  abundance  in  all  the  Middle,  Western,  and 
Southern  States. 

My  observations  in  New  Brunswick  have  led  me  to  form  a  dif- 
i'ereut  opinion  of  the  characteristics  of  this  Hawk  from  those 
expressed  by  several  writers.  The  examples  I  met  with  were  not 
peculiarly  void  of  eUher  boldness  or  vigor  in  pursuit  of  their  prey, 
nor  peculiarly  spiridess  when  wounded.  They  did,  of  course,  like 
others  of  the  tribe,  pursue  weak  prey,  and  displayed  little  true 
bravery;  but  bravery  is  not  a  charge'. iristic  of  the  Hawks.  A 
wounded  Broad-wing,  however,  acts  jurt  as  does  the  boldest  of 
them,  —  he  turns  on  his  back  and  l.its  Jut:  with  claws,  beak  and 
wings  ;  and  the  g^unner  who  thinks  he  has  a  meek  or  spiritles  >  bird 
to  handle  may  regret  the  thought. 


SHORT-TAILED    HAWK. 

BUTEO    BRACHVURUS. 

Char.  Above,  b/ownish  black  or  blackish  brown ;  forehead  and  cheeks 
white ;  tail  brownish  gray  barred  with  black  and  tipped  with  white ; 
beneath,  pure  white,  a  patch  of  rufous  on  side  of  chest.  Length  16 
inches. 

Nt'st.  In  a  tall  tree;  made  of  dry  twigs,  lined  with  fresh  <:wigs  <■'' 
cypress. 

Eg^srs.     1-3  ;  dull  white,  spotted  on  large  end  with  reddish  brown. 


MARSH  HAWK. 


51 


The  black  and  brown  phases  of  plumage  worn  by  this  bird  have 
caused  the  scientific  ornithologists  no  little  perplexity,  and  been  the 
subject  of  some  controversy;  so  a  brief  summary  of  the  various 
opinions  held  may  serve  as  an  illustration  of  the  evolution  of  many 
scientific  names. 

The  species  was  first  described  from  a  specimen  m  brown  plu- 
mage and  given  the  name  it  now  bears ;  then  a  young  bird  came 
into  the  handj  of  another  systematist,  and  supposing  it  to  be  a  new 
species,  he  named  it  B.  oxypterus;  and  afterwards  an  example  in 
black  was  taken  by  still  another,  who  supposed  it  to  be  something 
new,  so  he  wrote  it  down  B.  fuliginostis.  These  two  last-men- 
tioned were  disposed  of  by  other  writers  as  synonyms  of  swain- 
soni,  oxypterus  being  considered  the  young  plur  age,  and  fuligi- 
nosus  a  melanistic  phase,  while  in  several  more  lecent  works  the 
latter,  as  the  Little  Black  Hawk,  was  restored  to  specific  rank. 
These  opinions  have  recently  been  abandoned  for  that  which  has 
been  held  for  a  long  time  by  the  few,  —  that  both  fuliginosus  and 
oxypterus  are  synonyms  of  the  present  species. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  said  that  the  matter  is  finally  adjusted,  for 
the  Mr.ck  color  still  presents  this  problem  :  Is  it  individual  or  sex- 
ual, —  a  melanistic  phase,  or  the  normal  color  of  the  alult  male  ? 

The  bird  is  entirely  tropical  m  its  range,  and  is  four.d  vithin  the 
United  States  only  in  the  tropic?.!  portions  of  Florida.  It  was  sup- 
posed formerly  to  occur  there  merely  as  a  casual  or  accidental 
straggler ;  but  recent  observations  have  proved  it  to  be  a  regular 
though  uncommon  visitor,  and  breeding  there. 


MAi?SH   HAWK. 


marsh  harrier.   blue  hawk. 
Circus  hudsonius. 

Char.  Adult  male :  aoove,  bluish  gray ;  tail  with  dark  bands  ;  rump 
white ;  beneath  white.  Adult  female  and  young :  above,  dark  btovm 
streaked  with  rufcu:' ;  tail  with  dark  bands ;  rump  white  ;  beneath,  tawny 
with  dark  streaks,     i^ength  19  to  24  inches. 

Nest,  Oa  the  ground,  in  damp  meadow  or  cedar  swamp;  a  loosely 
arranged  platform  of  dried  grass  some  four  to  six  inches  high,  with  little 
depression,  occasionally  lined  with  softer  material. 

^SS^'  3-8 ;  bluish  white,  sometimes  spotted  with  huffish  or  brown ; 
1.80  X  i.^'.o. 


ii 


s 


52 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


This  species  is  common  to  the  northern  and  temperate,  as 
well  as  the  warmer  parts  of  the  old  and  new  continents,  being 
met  with  in  Europe,  Africa,  South  America,  and  the  West 
Indies.  In  the  winter  season  it  extends  its  peregrinations 
from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  Oregon  territory  and  the  southern 
parts  of  the  United  States,  frequenting  chiefly  open,  low,  and 
marshy  situations,  over  which  it  sweeps  or  skims  along,  at  a 
little  distance  usually  from  the  ground,  in  quest  of  mice,  small 
birds,  frogs,  lizards,  and  other  reptiles,  which  it  often  selects 
by  twilight  as  well  as  in  the  open  day ;  and  at  times,  pressed 
by  hunger,  it  is  said  to  join  the  Owls  and  seek  out  its  prey 
even  by  moonlight.  Instances  have  been  known  in  England 
in  which  this  bird  has  carried  its  temerity  so  far  as  to  pursue 
the  same  game  with  the  armed  fowler,  and  even  snatch  it  from 
his  grasp  after  calmly  waiting  for  it  to  be  shot,  and  without 
even  betraying  timidity  at  the  report  of  the  gun.  The  nest  of 
this  species  is  made  on  the  ground,  in  swampy  woods  or 
among  rushes,  occasionally  also  under  the  protection  of  rocky 
precipices,  and  is  said  to  be  formed  of  sticki;,  reeds,  leaves, 
straw,  and  similar  materials  heaped  together,  and  finished  with 
a  lining  of  feathers,  hair,  or  other  soft  substances.  In  the 
F.  cineraceuSy  so  nearly  related  to  this  species,  the  eggs  are  of 
a  pure  white.  When  their  young  are  approached,  the  parents, 
hovering  round  the  intruder  and  uttering  a  sort  of  uncouth 
syllable,  like  geg  geg  gag,  or  ge  ge  ne  ge  ge,  seem  full  of  afright 
and  anxiety.  The  Crows,  however,  are  their  greatest  enemies, 
and  they  often  succeed  in  demolishing  the  nests.  The  young 
are  easily  tamed,  and  feed  a  Imost  immediately  without  exhib- 
iting any  signs  of  fear. 

Nuttall  has  told  about  all  that  more  modern  observers  have  to 
tell  of  this  species.  The  authorities  differ  chiefly  in  descriptions  of 
the  structure  of  the  nest  and  the  markings  on  the  eggs.  The  nests 
that  I  have  examined  have  been  composed  entirely  of  coarse  grass, 
without  lining,  though  the  softest  of  the  grass  was  laid  on  top. 
The  eggs  were  unspotted. 


;rate,  as 
s,  being 
le  West 
inations 
outhern 
ow,  and 
ing,  at  a 
;e,  small 
I  selects 
pressed 
its  prey 
England 
3  pursue 
1  it  from 
without 
e  nest  of 
'oods  or 
of  rocky 
3,  leaves, 
lied  with 
In  the 
gs  are  of 
parents, 
uncouth 
f  afright 
enemies, 
le  young 
It  exhib- 


s  have  to 
ptions  of 
The  nests 
rse  grass, 
i  on  top. 


HAWK  OWL. 

SURNU  ULULA   CAPAROCH. 

Char.  Above,  dull  blackish  brown,  spotted  with  white ;  crown  without 
spots;  dark  patch  on  the  cheeks;  face  white,  the  feathers  with  dark 
margins;  tail  and  wing  with  white  bars;  below,  white  with  dark  bars. 
Length  14^  to  17^^  inches. 

JVesf.    On  a  tree ;  of  twigs  lined  with  feathers. 

£gg;s.    2-7  ;  dull  white  ;  1.55  X  1-25. 

This  remarkable  species,  forming  a  connecting  link  with 
the  preceding  genus  of  the  Hawks,  is  nearly  confined  to  the 
Arctic  wilds  of  both  continents,  being  frequent  in  Siberia  and 
the  fur  countries  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  Pacific.  A  few 
stragglers,  now  and  then,  at  distant  intervals  and  in  the  depths 
of  winter,  penetrate  on  the  one  side  into  the  northern  parts  of 
the  United  States,  and  on  the  other  they  occasionally  appear 
in  Germany,  and  more  rarely  in  France.  At  Hudson's  Bay 
they  are  observed  by  day  flying  high  and  preying  on  the  White 
Grouse  and  other  birds,  sometimes  even  attending  the  hunter 
like  a  Falcon,  and  boldly  taking  up  the  wounded  game  as  it 


54 


HIRDS   OF  PREY. 


111  I 


flutters  on  the  ground.  They  are  also  said  to  feed  on  mice 
and  insects,  and  (according  to  Meyer)  they  nest  upon  trees, 
laying  two  white  eggs.  They  are  said  to  be  constant  atten- 
dants on  the  Ptarmigans  in  their  spring  migrations  towards  the 
North,  and  are  observed  to  hover  round  the  camp-fires  of  the 
natives,  in  quest  probably  of  any  offal  or  rejected  game. 

In  Massachusetts  and  the  more  southern  portions  of  New  Eng- 
land the  Ha-vk  Owl  is  only  an  occasional  winter  visitor ;  but  in 
northern  New  England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces  it  occurs  regu- 
larly, though  of  varying  abundance,  in  some  seasons  being  quite 
rare.  It  is  fairly  common  near  Montreal,  and  rare  in  Ontario  and 
in  Ohio.  Thompson  reports  it  abundant  in  Manitoba,  but  only 
one  example  has  been  taken  in  Illinois  (^Ridgway).  It  breeds  in 
Newfoundland  and  the  Magdalen  Islands,  and  north  to  sub-arctic 
regions. 


SNOWY   OWL. 

Nyctea  nyctEa. 

Char.  General  color  pure  white,  with  markings  of  dull  brown  or 
brownish  black,  the  abundance  and  shade  of  the  spots  varying  with  age. 
A  large,  stout  bird.     Length  23  to  27  inches. 

Nest.    On  the  ground,  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers. 

Eggi.     5  to  10;  white;  2.55  X  190. 

This  very  large  and  often  snow-white  species  of  Owl  is 
almost  an  exclusive  inhabitant  of  the  Arctic  regions  of  both 
continents,  being  common  in  Iceland,  the  Shetland  Islands, 
Kamtschatka,  Lapland,  and  Hudson's  Bay.  In  these  dreary 
wilds,  surrounded  by  an  almost  perpetual  winter,  he  dwells, 
breeds,  and  obtains  his  subsistence.     His  white  robe  renders 


.''1 


r.' 


Ml 


%m 


1 1 


56 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


him  scarcely  discernible  from  the  overwhelming  snows,  where 
he  reigns,  like  the  boreal  spirit  of  the  storm.  His  loud,  hol- 
low, barking  growl,  ^whowh,  ^whowh,  ^whowh  hah,  hah,  hah, 
hdh^  and  other  more  dismal  cries,  sound  like  the  unearthly 
ban  of  Cerberus ;  and  heard  amidst  a  region  of  cheerless  soli- 
tude, his  lonely  and  terrific  voice  augments  rather  than  relieves 
the  horrors  of  the  scene. 

Clothed  with  a  dense  coating  of  feathers,  which  hide  even 
the  nostrils,  and  leave  only  the  talons  exposed,  he  ventures 
abroad  boldly  at  all  seasons,  and,  like  the  Hawks,  seeks  his 
prey  by  daylight  as  well  as  dark,  skimming  aloft  and  reconnoi- 
tring h  ;  prey,  which  is  commonly  the  White  Grouse  or  some 
other  birds  of  the  same  gem'.s,  as  well  as  hares.  On  these  he 
darts  from  above,  and  rapidly  seizes  them  in  his  resistless 
talons.  .\t  times  he  watches  for  fish,  and  condescends  also  to 
prey  upon  rats,  mice,  and  even  carrion. 

These  birds  appear  to  have  a  natural  aversion  to  settled 
countries ;  for  which  reason,  perhaps,  and  the  severity  of  the 
climate  of  Arctic  America,  they  are  frequently  known  to  wander 
in  the  winter  south  through  the  thinly  settled  intf^rior  of  the 
United  States.  They  migrate  probably  by  pairs ;  and  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  two  of  these  birds  were  so  stupid,  or  dazzled, 
as  to  alight  on  the  roof  of  the  court-house  in  the  large  town  of 
Cincinnati.  In  South  Carolina  Dr.  Garden  saw  them  occa- 
sionally, and  they  were,  in  this  mild  region,  observed  to  hide 
themselves  during  the  day  in  the  palmetto-groves  of  the  sea- 
coast,  and  only  sallied  out  towards  night  in  quest  of  their  prey. 
Their  habits,  therefore,  seem  to  vary  considerably,  according 
to  circumstances  and  climate. 

This  species  is  a  regular  winter  visitor  to  the  Northern  and 
Middle  States,  and  during  some  seasons  has  been  quite  abundant. 
A  few  pairs  have  been  seen  in  summer  in  northern  Maine,  New 
Brunswick,  and  Nova  Scotia;  but  the  usual  breeding-ground  is 
from  about  latitude  50^  to  the  Arctic  regions. 

While  in  their  more  southern  resorts  they  are  rarely  found  far 
from  ihe  forest  districts. 

^  These  latter  syllables  with  the  usual  quivering  sound  of  the  Owl. 


SCREECH   OWL. 

mottled  owl.   red  owl. 

Megascops  asio. 

Char.  Above,  varying  greatly  from  brownish  gray  to  brownish  red, 
spotted  (mottled)  with  darker  shades  of  the  same  tint  and  with  blackish; 
below,  dull  whitish  or  with  a  rufous  tint  and  heavily  marked  with  dull 
brown  or  blackish.  In  highly  colored  red  examples  the  spots  are  less 
frequent.  Large  ear  tufts  ;  wings  and  tail  barred  with  the  light  and  dark 
colors  ;  legs  feathered  and  toes  bristled.     Length  7  to  10  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  hollow  tree  or  stump  ;  the  b:;ttom  of  the  hole  slightly  lined 
with  leaves  or  feathers. 

EgS^-    4-8;  white,  nearly  round  ;  1.35  X  1.20. 

Mottled  Owl. — This  common,  small,  and  handsome  species, 
known  as  the  Little  Screech  Owl,  is  probably  resident  in  every 
part  of  the  United  States,  and,  in  fact,  inhabits  from  Greenland 
to  Florida,  and  westward  to  the  Oregon.  It  appears  more 
abundant  in  autumn  and  winter,  as  at  those  seasons,  food  fail- 


:; 


58 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


ing,  it  is  obliged  to  approach  habitations  and  bams,  in  which 
the  mice  it  chiefly  preys  on  now  assemble  ;  it  also  lies  in  wait 
for  small  birds,  and  feeds  on  beetles,  crickets,  and  other  in- 
sects. The  nest  is  usually  in  the  hollow  of  an  old  orchard  tree, 
about  the  months  of  May  or  June ;  it  is  lined  carelessly  with 
a  little  hay,  leaves,  and  feathers,  and  the  eggs  are  commonly 
four  to  six,  white,  and  nearly  round.  Aldrovandus  remarks 
that  the  Great  Horned  Owl  provides  so  plentifully  for  its 
young  that  a  person  might  obtain  some  dainties  from  the 
nest,  and  yet  leave  a  sufficiency  for  the  Owlets  besides.  The 
same  remark  may  also  apply  to  this  species,  as  in  the  hollow 
stump  of  an  apple-tree,  which  contained  a  brood  of  these 
young  Owls,  were  found  several  Bluebirds,  Blackbirds,  and 
Song  Sparrows,  intended  as  a  supply  of  food. 

During  the  day  these  birds  retire  into  hollow  trees  and  un- 
frequented bams,  or  hide  in  the  thickest  evergreens.  At  times 
thty  are  seen  abroad  by  day,  and  in  cloudy  weather  they  wake 
up  from  their  diurnal  slumbers  a  considerable  time  before 
dark.  In  the  day  they  are  always  drowsy,  or,  as  if  dozing, 
closing,  or  scarcely  half  opening  their  heavy  eyes,  presenting 
the  very  picture  of  sloth  and  rightly  dissipation.  When  per- 
ceived by  the  smaller  birds,  they  are  at  once  recognized  as 
their  insidious  enemies ;  and  the  rareness  of  their  appearance, 
before  the  usual  roosting-time  of  other  birds,  augments  the 
suspicion  they  entertain  of  these  feline  hunters.  From  com- 
plaints and  cries  of  alarm,  the  Thmsh  sometimes  threatens 
blows;  and  though  evening  has  perhaps  set  in,  the  smaller 
birds  and  cackling  Robins  re-echo  their  shrill  chirpings  and 
complaints  throughout  an  extensive  wood,  until  the  noctumal 
monster  has  to  seek  safety  in  a  distant  flight.  Their  notes  are 
most  frequent  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and  autumn,  crying 
in  a  sort  of  wailing  quiver,  not  very  unlike  the  whining  of  a 
puppy  dog,  ho,  ho  ho  ho  ho  ho  hb,  proceeding  from  high  and 
clear  to  a  low  guttural  shake  or  trill.  These  notes,  at  little  in- 
tervals, are  answered  by  some  companion,  and  appear  to  be 
chiefly  a  call  of  recognition  from  young  of  the  same  brood,  or 
pairs  who  wish  to  discover  each  other  after  having  been  sepa- 


RED  OWL. 


59 


rated  while  dozing  in  the  day.  On  moonlight  evenings  this 
slender  wailing  is  kept  up  nearly  until  midnight. 

Red  Owl.  —  From  the  very  satisfactory  and  careful  observa- 
tions of  Dr.  Ezra  Michener,  of  New  Garden,  Chester  County, 
Pennsylvania,  published  in  the  eighth  volume  of  the  Journal  of 
the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  it  appears 
certain  that  the  Red  and  Gray  "  Screech  Owls  "  of  the  United 
States  are  specifically  distinct ;  he  has  observed  that  the  Red 
Owls  rear  young  of  the  same  color,  and  that  the  Gray  Owls 
of  the  preceding  species  have  also  young  which  are  gray  and 
mottled  from  the  very  nest.  Still  different  as  they  are  in 
plumage,  the  habits  of  the  species  are  nearly  alike.  The 
present  inhabits  and  breeds  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States. 
In  Pennsylvania  they  are  hatched  by  the  latter  end  of  May, 
breeding  in  hollow  trees.     The  eggs  are  about  four. 

I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  verifying  all  that  Wilson  re- 
lates of  the  manners  of  this  species  in  a  Red  or  young  Owl, 
taken  out  of  a  hollow  apple-tree,  which  I  kept  for  some 
months.  A  dark  closet  was  his  favorite  retreat  during  the 
day.  In  the  evening  he  became  very  lively  and  restless,  glid- 
ing across  the  room  in  which  he  was  confined,  with  a  side- 
long, noiseless  flight,  as  if  wafted  by  the  air  alone.  At  times 
he  clung  to  the  wainscot,  and,  unable  to  turn,  he  brought  his 
head  round  to  his  back,  so  as  to  present,  by  the  aid  of  his 
brilliant  eyes,  a  most  spectral  and  unearthly  appearance.  As 
the  eyes  of  all  the  Owls,  according  to  Wilson,  are  fixed  im- 
movably in  the  socket  by  means  of  a  many  cleft  capsular  liga- 
ment, this  provision  for  the  free  versatile  motion  of  the  head 
appears  necessary.  \Vhen  approached  towards  evening,  he 
appeared  strongly  engaged  in  reconnoitring  the  object,  blow- 
ing with  a  hissing  noise  (shay,  sha}\  shay) ,  common  to  other 
species,  and  stretching  out  his  neck  with  a  waving,  lateral 
motion,  in  a  threatening  attitude,  and,  on  a  nearer  approach, 
made  a  snapping  with  the  bill,  produced  by  striking  together 
both  mandibles,  as  they  are  equally  movable.  He  was  a  very 
expert  mouse-catcher,  swallowed  his  prey  whole,  and  then, 
after  some  time,  ejected  from  the  bill  the  bones,  skin,  and 


t 
If 


i 


I 


I 

pi 


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6o 


BIRDS  OF   PREY. 


hair,  in  pellets.  He  also  devoured  large  flies,  which  at  this 
time  came  into  the  room  in  great  numbers  ;  and  even  the  dry 
parts  of  these  were  also  ejected  from  the  stomach  without  di- 
gestion. A  pet  of  this  species,  which  Dr.  Michener  had, 
drank  frequently,  and  was  accustomed  to  wash  every  day  in 
a  basin  of  cold  water  during  the  heat  of  summer. 

Nuttall,  following  Wilson  and  Audubon,  treated  the  gray  and 
red  phases  of  this  bird  as  two  distinct  species,  and  wrote  separate 
biographies,  which  I  insert  in  full.  Some  ornithologists  have  sup- 
posed that  the  gray  specimens  were  the  young  birds;  but  it  has 
been  proved  beyond  question  that  the  two  phases  are  simply  indi- 
vidual variations  of  the  same  species.  Gray  and  red  birds  have 
been  found  in  one  nest,  with  both  parents  gray,  or  both  red,  or  with 
one  of  each  color. 

Note.  —  A  smaller  and  darker  race  is  found  in  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  and  Fl  nda.  It  is  named  Florida  Screech  Owl 
{M.  asto  Jloridanus).  In  this  race  the  reddish  feathers  wear  a 
richer  rufous  tint,  and  the  gray  are  more  deeply  tinged  with 
brown. 


■  l^V:-^.:^^-'---- 


1.-  ■      .         *         -  -•    --  '^     it*''  »' 


GREAT  HORNED   OWL. 

CAT  OWL. 

Bubo  virginianus. 

Char.  Plumage  very  variable,  of  mottled  black,  light  and  dark 
brown,  buff,  and  tawny.  A  white  band  on  the  throat,  and  a  white  stripe 
down  the  breast,  —  the  latter  sometimes  obscure.  Ear-tufts  large  and 
conspicuous;  legs  and  toes  feathered.     Length  i8  to  25  inches. 

JVesf.  Sometimes  within  a  hollow  tree,  but  usually  on  an  upper  limb. 
A  deserted  nest  of  Crow  or  Hawk  is  often  used,  and  then  it  is  a  clumsy, 
bulky  affair  of  sticks,  lined  with  feathers. 

Egg^s.    2-3;  white  and  nearly  spherical ;  2  20  X  1.80. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  Great  Eared  Owl  of 
Europe,   is   met  with   occasionally    from    Hudson's   Bay  to 


I  ^ « 


Mii 


U 


62 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


m  I 


Florida,  and  in  Oregon ;  it  exists  even  beyond  the  Ironies, 
being  very  probably  the  same  bird  described  by  Marcgrave  as 
inhabiting  the  forests  of  Brazil.  All  climates  are  alike  to  tiiis 
Eagle  of  the  night,  the  king  of  the  nocturnal  tribe  of  American, 
birds.  The  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  country  dread  his 
boding  howl,  dedicating  his  effigies  to  their  solemnities,  and,  as 
if  he  were  their  sacred  bird  of  Minerva,  forbid  the  mockeiy  of 
his  ominous,  dismal,  and  almost  supernatural  cries.  His  favor- 
ite resort,  in  the  dark  and  impenetrable  swampy  forests,  wlitre 
he  dwells  in  chosen  solitude  secure  from  the  approach  of  every 
enemy,  agrees  with  the  melancholy  and  sinister  traits  of  his 
character.  To  the  surrounding  feathered  race  he  is  the  Pluto 
of  the  gloomy  wilderness,  and  would  scarcely  be  known  out  of 
the  dismal  shades  where  he  hides,  'but  to  his  victims,  were  he 
as  silent  as  he  is  solitary.  Among  the  choking,  loud,  guttural 
sounds  which  he  sometimes  utters  in  the  dead  of  night,  and 
with  a  suddenness  which  always  alarms,  because  of  his  noiseless 
approach,  is  the  'waug/i  ho  !  ^waugh  ho !  which,  Wilson  re- 
marks, was  often  uttered  at  the  instant  of  sweeping  down 
around  his  camp-fire.  Many  kinds  of  Owls  are  similarly  daz- 
zled and  attracted  by  fire-lights,  and  occasionally  finding,  no 
doubt,  some  offal  or  flesh  thrown  out  by  those  who  encamp  in 
the  wilderness,  they  come  round  the  nocturnal  blaze  with  other 
motives  than  barely  those  of  curiosity.  The  solitary  travellers 
in  these  wilds,  apparently  scanning  the  sinister  motive  of  his 
visits,  pretend  to  interpret  his  address  into  "'Jf7w  ^  cooks  for 
you  all!''''  and  with  a  strong  guttural  pronunciation  of  the  final 
syllable,  to  all  those  who  have  heard  this  his  common  cry,  the 
resemblance  of  sound  is  well  hit,  and  instantly  recalls  the 
ghastly  serenade  of  his  nocturnal  majesty  in  a  manner  which 
is  not  easily  forgotten.  The  shorter  cry  which  we  have 
mentioned  makes  no  inconsiderable  approach  to  that  uttered 
by  the  European  brother  of  our  species,  as  given  by  Buffon, 
namely,  ^he-hoo,  ^hoo-hoo,  boo-hoo,  etc.  I'he  Greeks  called  this 
transatlantic  species  Byas,  either  from  its  note  or  from  the 
resemblance  this  bore  to  the  bellowing  of  the  ox.  The  Latin 
name  Bubo  has  also  reference  to  the  same  note  of  this  noc- 


GREAT  HORNED   OWL. 


63 


tumal  bird.  According  to  Frisch,  who  kept  one  of  these  birds 
alive,  its  cries  varied  according  to  circumstances ;  when  hungry 
it  had  a  muHng  cry  Uke  Puhu.  I  have  remarked  the  young, 
probably,  of  our  species  utter  the  same  low,  quailing  cry,  while 
yet  daylight,  as  it  sat  on  the  low  branch  of  a  tree ;  the  sound 
of  both  is,  at  times,  also  not  unlike  that  made  by  the  Hawks  or 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Indeed,  in  gloomy  weather  I  have  seen 
our  species  on  the  alert,  flying  about  many  hours  before  dark, 
and  uttering  his  call  of  'ko  ko,  ko  kb  ho.  Their  usual  prey  is 
young  rabbits,  squirrels,  rats,  mice.  Quails,  and  small  birds  of 
various  kinds ;  and  when  these  resources  fail  or  diminish,  they 
occasionally  prowl  pretty  boldly  around  the  farm-yard  in  quest 
of  Chickens,  which  they  seize  on  the  roost.  Indeed  the  Euro- 
pean Horned  Owl  frequently  contends  with  the  Buzzard  for  its 
prey,  and  generally  comes  off  conqueror ;  blind  and  infuriate 
with  hunger,  one  of  these  has  been  known  to  dart  even  upon 
a  man,  as  if  for  conflict,  and  was  killed  in  the  encounter.  My 
friend  Dr.  Boykin,  of  Milledgeville,  in  Georgia,  assured  me  that 
one  of  our  own  daring  nocturnal  adventurers,  prowling  round 
his  premises,  saw  a  cat  dozing  on  the  roof  of  a  smoke-house, 
and  supposing  grimalkin  a  more  harmless,  rabbit-like  animal 
than  appeared  in  the  sequel,  blindly  snatched  her  up  in  his 
talons ;  but  f.nding  he  had  caught  a  Tartar,  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore he  allowed  puss  once  more  to  tread  the  ground.  In 
England  the  same  error  was  committed  by  an  Eagle,  who, 
after  a  severe  conflict  with  a  cat  he  had  carried  into  the  air, 
was  at  length  brought  to  the  ground  before  he  could  disengage 
himself  from  the  feline  grasp. 

An  Owl  of  this  species,  which  I  have  observed  in  a  cage, 
appeared  very  brisk  late  in  the  morning,  hissed  and  blew  when 
approached  with  a  stick,  and  dashed  at  it  very  heedlessly  with 
his  bill ;  he  now  and  then  uttered  a  ^ko-koh,  and  was  pretty 
loud  in  his  call  at  an  earlier  hour.  When  approached,  he  cir- 
cularly contracted  the  iris  of  the  ^yes  to  obtain  a  clearer  view 
of  the  threatened  object ;  he  also  listened  with  great  quickness 
to  any  sound  which  occurred  near  his  prison,  and  eyed  the 
flying  Pigeons,  which  passed  by  at  some  distance,  with  a  scruti- 


• 


64 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


nizing  and  eager  glance.     When  fed  he  often  had  the  habit  of 
hiding  away  his  superfluous  provision. 

As  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe  the  retiring  manners 
of  this  recluse,  he  slumbers  out  the  day  chiefly  in  the  dark  tops 
of  lofty  trees.  In  these,  according  to  Wilson,  he  generally  be- 
gins to  build  in  the  month  of  May,  though  probably  earlier  in 
the  Southern  States.  The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  the  foik  of 
a  tree,  made  of  a  considerable  pile  of  sticks,  and  lined  with 
dry  leaves  and  some  feathers ;  and,  as  a  saving  of  labor,  some- 
times they  select  a  hollow  tree  for  the  purpose. 

This  Owl  is  usually  found  in  woods  of  rather  large  growth ;  but 
Nuttall  slightly  exaggerated  in  naming  the  "  dark  and  impenetrable 
bwampy  forest "  as  its  "  favorite  resort."  Throughout  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  it  is  found  on  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  as  well 
as  in  the  wilderness. 

An  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  this  species  in  captivity, 
from  the  note-book  of  Mr.  James  W.  Banks,  of  St.  John,  N.  B., 
appeared  in  "The  Auk  "  for  April,  1884. 


Note.  —  There  are  two  geographical  races  of  this  species  that 
should  be  named  here.  The  Dusky  Horned  Owl  {B.  viri>i- 
niantis  saturatus),-3iXi  extremely  dark  form,  occurs  in  J^abrador,  and 
is  found  also  on  the  coast  of  the  Northwest.  The  Western 
Horned  Owl  {B.  virginianus  subanticus),  a  light-gray  form,  is 
usually  restricted  to  the  middle  faunal  province,  but  has  been  taken 
in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 


GREAT   GRAY   OWL. 
Ulula  cinerea. 

Char.  Above,  sooty  brown  mottled  with  irregular  bars  of  dull  gray ; 
below,  paler  tints  of  same  colors  in  wavy  stripes.  No  ear-tufts.  The 
largest  o£  the  Owls.    Length,  23  to  30  inches. 

Nest.    In  a  tree. 

£SS^-    2-3;  white;  2.15  X  1.70. 

This  is  the  largest  American  species  known,  and  if  the  S. 
lapponica,  common  also  to  the  Arctic  circle,  and  seldom  leav- 
ing it,  being  only  accidental  about  Lake  Superior,  and  occa- 


GREAT  GRAY   OWL. 


65 


sionally  seen  in  Massachusetts  in  the  depth  of  severe  winters. 
One  was  caught  perched  on  a  wood-pile,  in  a  state  of  listless 
inac;..vity,  in  the  morning  after  daylight,  at  Marblehead,  in 
February,  1831.  This  individual  survived  for  several  months, 
and  showed  a  great  partiality  for  fish  and  birds.  At  times  he 
uttered  a  tremulous  cry  or  ho  ho  ho  ho  hoo,  not  very  dissimilar 
to  that  of  the  Mottled  Owl.  At  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador 
these  Owls  reside  the  whole  year,  and  were  found  in  the  Ore- 
gon territory  by  Mr.  Townsend.  They  associate  in  pairs,  fly 
very  low,  and  feed  on  mice  and  hares,  which  they  seize  with 
such  muscular  vig  .•  as  sometimes  to  sink  into  the  snow  after 
them  a  foot  deep.  With  ease  they  are  able  to  carry  off  the 
alpine  hare  alive  in  their  talons.  In  Europe  the  species  ap- 
pears wholly  confined  to  the  desert  regions  of  Lapland,  two  or 
three  stragglers  being  all  that  have  been  obtained  out  of  that 
country  by  naturalists. 

Dr.  Richardson  says  that  it  is  by  no  means  a  rare  bird  in  the 
fur  countries,  being  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  woody  districts 
lying  between  Lake  Superior  and  latitudes  67°  or  68°  and 
between  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Pacific.  It  is  common  on 
the  borders  of  Great  Bear  Lake  ;  and  there,  and  in  the  higher 
parallels  of  latitude,  it  must  pursue  its  prey,  during  the  sunmier 
months,  by  daylight.  It  keeps,  however,  within  the  woods,  and 
does  not  frequent  the  barren  grounds,  like  the  Snowy  Owl,  nor 
is  it  so  often  met  with  in  broad  daylight  as  the  Hawk  Owl,  but 
hunts  principally  when  the  sun  is  low,  —  indeed,  it  is  only  at  such 
times,  when  the  recesses  of  the  woods  are  deeply  shadowed, 
that  the  American  hare  and  the  marine  animals  on  which  the 
Cinereous  Owl  chiefly  preys,  come  forth  to  feed.  On  the  23d 
of  May  I  discovered  a  nest  of  this  Owl,  built  on  the  top  of  a 
lofty  balsam  poplar,  of  sticks,  and  lined  with  feathers.  It  con- 
tained three  young,  which  were  covered  with  a  whitish  down. 

The  capture  in  New  England  of  several  examples  of  this  species 
has  been  recorded.  During  the  winter  of  1889-90,  a  number  were 
seen  along  the  northern  border  of  these  States  and  in  the  southern 
portions  of  Canada.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reported  that  a  large  number 
had  been  taken  near  Hamilton. 

VOL.  I.  —  5 


LONG-EARED   OWL. 

ASIO   WILSONIANUS. 

Char.  Above,  finely  mottled  with  dark  brown,  dull  buff,  and  gray  ; 
breast  similar,  but  of  reddish  tint ;  belly  paler,  with  dark  markings.  Ear- 
tufts  large;  toes  feathered.     Length  15  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  a  tree;  of  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 
Sometinies  a  deserted  Crow's  or  Hawk's  nest  is  used. 

^S.^^-     3~6;  white  and  oval ;  1.65  X  1.30. 

This  species,  like  several  others  of  the  genus,  appears  to  be 
almost  a  denizen  of  the  world,  being  found  from  Hudson's  Bay 
to  the  West  Indies  and  Brazil,  throughout  Europe,  in  Africa, 
northern  Asia,  and  probably  China,  in  all  which  countries 
it  appears  to  be  resident,  bat  seems  more  abundant  in  certain 
places  in  winter,  following  rats  and  mice  to  their  retreats  in  or 
near  houses  and  barns.  It  also  preys  upon  small  birds,  and 
in  summer  destroys  beetles.  It  commonly  lodges  in  ruined 
buildings,  the  caverns  of  rocks,  or  in  hollow  trees.     It  defends 


LONG-EARED  OWL. 


67 


itself  with  great  spirit  from  the  attacks  of  larger  birds,  making 
a  ready  use  of  its  bill  and  talons,  and  when  wounded  is  dan- 
gerous and  resolute. 

The  Long- Eared  Owl  seldom,  if  ever,  takes  the  trouble 
to  construct  a  nest  of  its  own ;  it  seeks  shelter  amidst  ruins 
and  in  the  accidental  hollows  of  trees,  and  rests  content  with 
the  dilapidated  nursery  of  the  Crow,  the  Magpie,  that  of  the 
Wild  Pigeon,  of  the  Buzzard,  or  even  the  tufted  retreat  of  the 
squirrel.  True  to  these  habits,  Wilson  found  one  of  these 
Owls  sitting  on  her  eggs  in  the  deserted  nest  of  the  Qua  Bird, 
on  the  25th  of  April,  six  or  seven  miles  below  Philadelphia,  in 
the  midst  of  the  gloomy  enswamped  forest  which  formed  the 
usual  resort  of  these  solitary  Herons.  So  well  satisfied  was  she 
in  fact  with  her  company,  and  so  peaceable,  that  one  of  the  Quas 
had  a  nest  in  the  same  tree  with  the  Owl.  The  young,  until 
nearly  fully  grown,  are  grayish  white,  and  roost  close  together 
on  a  large  branch  during  the  day,  sheltered  and  hid  amidst  the 
thickest  foliage ;  they  acquire  their  natural  color  in  about  fifteen 
days.  Besides  mice  and  rats,  this  species  also  preys  on  field- 
mice,  moles,  and  beetles.  The  plaintive  cry  or  hollow  moan- 
ing made  by  this  bird,  " ci^  cloudy'  incessantly  repeated 
during  the  night,  so  as  to  be  troublesome  where  they  frequent, 
is  very  attractive  to  the  larger  birds,  who  out  of  curiosity  and 
for  persecution  assemble  around  this  species  when  employed 
as  a  decoy,  and  are  thus  shot  or  caught  by  limed  twigs. 

This  Owl  occurs  throughout  temperate  North  America,  and  is  a 
common  resident  everywhere  excepting  along  the  northern  limit  of 
its  range,  where  it  is  less  abundant,  and  appears  in  summer  only. 


SHORT-EARED  OWL. 

ASIO  ACCIPITRINUS. 

Char.  Above,  mottled  with  dark  brown,  tawny,  and  buffish  white  j 
below,  paler ;  feet  feathered  ;  ear-tufts  inconspicuous.  Some  examples 
are  much  paler,  as  if  the  colors  had  faded.    Length  about  1 5  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground  amid  tall  grass,  and  composed  of  a  few  twigs  and 
a  few  feathers. 

^SS^'    3"6  ;  white  and  oval ;  1.60  X  1.20. 

This  is  another  of  those  nocturnal  wanderers  which  now  and 
then  arrive  amongst  us  from  the  northern  regions,  where  they 
usually  breed.  It  comes  to  Hudson's  Bay  from  the  South 
about  May,  where  it  makes  a  nest  of  dry  grass  on  the  ground, 
and,  as  usual,  has  white  eggs.  After  rearing  its  brood  it  de- 
parts for  the  South  in  September,  and  in  its  migrations  has 
been  met  with  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  near  Philadelphia,  where, 
according  to  Wilson,  it  arrives  in  November  and  departs  in 
April.     Pennant  remarks  that  it  has  been  met  with  in  the 


i  1 


SHORT-EARED  OWL. 


69 


southern  continent  of  America  at  the  Falkland  Islands.  It  is 
likewise  spread  through  every  part  of  Europe,  anil  is  common 
in  all  the  forests  of  Siberia ;  it  also  visits  the  Orkney  Islands 
and  Iceland,  and  we  have  observed  it  at  Atooi,  one  of  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  the  Pacific,  as  well  as  in  the  territory  of 
Oregon.  In  England  it  appears  and  disappears  with  the  mi- 
grations of  the  Woodcock.  Its  food  is  almost  exclusively  mice, 
for  which  it  watches,  seated  on  a  stump,  with  all  the  vigilance 
of  a  cat,  listening  attentively  to  the  low  squeak  of  its  prey, 
to  which  it  is  so  much  alive  as  to  be  sometimes  brought  in 
sight  by  imitating  the  sound.  It  is  readily  attracted  by  the 
blaze  of  nocturnal  fires,  and  on  such  occasions  has  sometimes 
had  the  blind  temerity  to  attack  men,  and  come  so  close  to 
combat  as  to  be  knocked  down  with  sticks.  When  wounded 
it  also  displays  the  same  courageous  ferocity,  so  as  to  be 
dangerous  to  approach.  In  dark  and  cloudy  weather  it  some- 
times ventures  abroad  by  daylight,  takes  short  flights,  and 
when  sitting  and  looking  sharply  round,  it  erects  the  short,  ear- 
like tufts  of  feathers  -on  the  head  which  are  at  other  times 
scarcely  visible.  Like  all  other  migrating  birds,  roving  indif- 
ferently over  the  country  in  quest  of  food  alone,  these  Owls 
have  sometimes  been  seen  in  considerable  numbers  together ; 
Bewick  even  remarks  that  28  of  them  had  been  counted  at 
once  in  a  turnip-field  in  England.  They  are  also  numerous  in 
Holland  in  the  months  of  September  and  October,  and  in  all 
countries  are  serviceable  for  the  destruction  they  make  among 
house  and  field  mice,  their  principal  food.  Although  they 
usually  breed  in  high  ground,  they  have  also  been  observed  in 
Europe  to  nest  in  marshes,  in  the  middle  of  the  high  herbage, 
—  a  situation  chosen  both  for  safety  and  solitude. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  New  England  Owls,  and 
breeds  in  all  the  suitable  marsh  land  along  the  coast.  It  ranges 
north  to  the  fur  countries,  south  to  the  Gulf  States  and  beyond, 
and  west  to  the  Pacific. 


BARRED   OWL. 

HOOT  OWL. 

Syrnium  nebulxdsum. 

Char.  Above,  brown  barred,  spotted,  and  stiiped  with  dull  gray  or 
tawny  ;  below,  similar  colors  of  paler  tints ;  face,  gray  stripes ;  tail 
barred  ;  iris  brownish  black  ;  bill  yellow.     Length  19^  to  24  inches. 

Easily  distinguished  from  all  other  species  by  its  dark  eyes. 

A^est.  Usually  in  a  hollow  tree,  but  often  a  deserted  nest  of  Crow  or 
Hawk  is  re-lined  and  used. 

Eggs.    2-4;  white  and  nearly  spherical ;  1.95  X  1.65. 

This  species  inhabits  the  northern  regions  of  both  the  old 
and  new  continent,  but  with  this  difference,  as  in  the  Bald 
Eagle,  that  in  the  ancient  continent  it  seldom  wanders  be- 
yond the  Arctic  circle,  being  found  no  farther  to  the  south  than 
Sweden  and  Nor^vay ;  while  in  America  it  dwells  and  breeds 
at  least  in  all  the  intermediate  region  from  Hudson's  Bay  to 
Florida,  being  considerably  more  numerous  even  than  other 
species  throughout  the  swamps  and  dark  forests  of  .the  South- 


BARRED   OWL. 


71 


em  States.  Its  food  is  principally  rabbits,  squirrels,  Grouse, 
Quails,  rats,  mice,  and  frogs.  From  necessity,  as  well  as  choice, 
these  birds  not  unfrequently  appear  around  the  farm-house  and 
garden  in  quest  of  the  poultry,  particularly  young  chickens. 
At  th^se  times  they  prowl  abroad  towards  evening,  and  fly  low 
and  steadily  about,  as  if  beating  for  their  prey.  In  Alaoama, 
Georgia,  West  Florida,  and  Louisiana,  where  they  abound,  they 
are  often  to  be  seen  abroad  by  day,  particularly  in  cloudy 
weather,  and  at  times  even  soar  and  fly  with  all  the  address  of 
diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Their  loud  guttural  call  of  ^koh  ^koh  ^ko 
ko,  ho,  or  ^whah  ^whah  ^whah  ^whah-aa,  may  be  heard  occasion- 
ally both  by  day  and  night,  and  as  a  note  of  recognition,  is 
readily  answered  when  mimicked,  so  as  to  decoy  the  original 
towards  the  sound.  One  which  I  received,  in  the  month  of 
December  (1830),  was  hovering  over  a  covey  of  Quails  in  the 
day-time ;  and  though  the  sportsman  had  the  same  aim,  the 
Owl  also  joined  the  chase,  and  was  alone  deterred  from  his 
sinister  purpose  by  receiving  the  contents  of  the  gun  intended 
only  for  the  more  favorite  game.  When  the  young  leave  the 
nest  they  still  keep  together  for  mutual  warmth  and  safety  in 
the  high,  shaded  branches  of  the  trees  where  they  have  prob- 
ably been  hatched.  On  being  approached  by  the  parents, 
they  utter  a  hissing  call  audible  for  some  distance.  According 
to  Audubon,  when  kept  in  captivity  they  prove  very  useful 
in  catching  mice.  Their  flesh  is  also  eaten  by  the  Creoles  of 
Louisiana,  and  considered  as  palatable. 

An  interesting  article,  containing  the  most  valuable  information 
regarding  the  habits  of  this  Owl  that  has  yet  been  published,  ap- 
peared in  "  The  Auk  "  for  April,  1890.  The  writer,  Mr.  Frank  Belles, 
kept  a  pair  for  several  years ;  and  one  of  these,  having  broken  its 
wing,  was  reduced  to  such  subjection  that  Mr.  BoUes  was  enabled 
to  make  use  of  it  in  hunting  for  other  birds,  and  thus  gained 
an  insight  into  the  bird's  methods  that  no  other  naturalist  has 
equalled. 

Note. — The  Florida  Barred  Owl  {S.  nebnlosutn  allcni), 
a  somewhat  darker  variety,  is  restricted  to  the  Gulf  States  and 
Florida. 


72 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


SAW-WHET  OWL. 

ACADIAN   OWL. 
Nyctala  ACADICA. 

Char.  Above,  dark  grayish  brown  spotted  with  white  ;  below,  white, 
spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  tail  short,  with  three  narrow  bands  of  white 
spots.  Young  almost  solid  brown  of  reddish  tint,  and  face  with  white 
markings.     Length  7}{  to  8}4  inches. 

A^at.  A  hole  in  a  tree  (often  in  a  hole  that  has  been  deserted  by  Wood- 
peckers), lined  with  feathers. 

^S'ff^-     3"6  (usually  4) ;  white;  1.20  X  i.oo. 

This  very  small  species  is  believed  to  be  an  inhabitant  of  the 
northern  regions  of  both  continents,  from  which  in  Europe  it 
seldom  wanders,  being  even  very  rare  in  the  North  of  Germany. 
In  the  United  States  it  is  not  uncommon  as  far  to  the  south  as 
Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  where  it  is  resident,  having  ap- 
parently a  predilection  for  the  sea-coast,  living  and  nesting  in 
the  pine-trees  or  in  the  clefts  of  rocks,  and  laying  4  or  5 
white  eggs.  It  is  generally  nocturnal ;  and  if  accidentally 
abroad  by  day,  it  flies  quickly  to  some  shelter  from  the  light. 
It  is  very  solitary  in  its  habits,  living  wholly  in  the  evergreen 
forests,  and  coming  out  only  towards  night  or  early  in  the 
morning  in  search  of  mice,  beetles,  moths,  and  grasshoppers. 

The  note  of  this  species  is  very  different  from  that  of  the 
Strix  passerina,  or  Little  Owl,  to  which  it  is  nearly  related. 
This  latter  kind  has  a  reiterated  cry,  when  flying,  like  poopoo 
poopoo.  Another  note,  which  it  utters  sitting,  appears  so  much 
like  the  human  voice  calling  out  aime,  heme,  edme,  that  accord- 
ing to  Buffon,  it  deceived  one  of  his  servants,  who  lodged  in 
one  of  the  old  turrets  of  the  castle  of  Montbard ;  and  waking 
him  up  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  this  singular  cry, 
he  opened  the  window  and  called  out,  "  Who  V  there  below  ? 
My  name  is  not  Eume,  but  Peter  !  " 

The  Saw-whet  —  called  so  from  its  note,  which  resembles  the 
filing  of  a  saw  —  breeds  from  the  Middle  States  northward  to  about 
latitude  50°,  but  is  not  an  abundant  bird  anywhere. 


RICHARDSON'S   OWL. 

SPARROW  OWL. 
Nyctala  TENGMALMI  RICHARDSONI. 

Char.  Above,  dark  brown  spotted  with  white ;  beneath,  white  streaked 
with  brown;  legs  and  feet  buffy,  sometimes  spotted.  Similar  to  the  Saw- 
whet,  but  with  more  white  on  head  and  neck.    Length  9  to  12  inches. 

Nest.     In  a  tree ;  of  grass  and  leaves. 

Eggs.     2-4;  white;  1.35  X  i.iS- 

This  is  a  small  and  nocturnal  species,  and  so  much  so  that 
when  it  accidentally  wanders  abroad  by  day  it  is  so  much  daz- 
zled by  the  light  as  to  be  rendered  unable  to  make  its  escape 
when  surprised,  and  may  then  be  readily  caught  by  the  hand. 
Its  nocturnal  cry  consists  of  a  single  melancholy  note  repeated 
at  the  long  intervals  of  a  minute  or  two :  and  it  is  one  of  the 
superstitious  practices  of  the  Indians  to  whistle  when  they  hear 
it ;  and  if  the  bird  remains  silent  after  this  interrogatory  chal- 
lenge, the  speedy  death  of  the  inquirer  is  augured  ;  and  hence 
among  the  Crees  it  has  acquired  the  omnious  appellation  of 
the  Bird  of  Death  ( Chcepomes'ees) .  According  to  M.  Hutch- 
ins,  it  builds  a  nest  of  grass  half  way  up  a  pine-tree,  and  lays 


74 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 


2  eggs  in  the  month  of  May.  It  feeds  on  mice  and  beetles. 
It  probably  inhabits  all  the  foiests  of  the  fur  countries  from 
Great  Slave  Lake  to  the  United  States.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Saskatchewan  it  is  so  common  that  its  voice  is  heard  almost 
every  night  by  the  traveller  wherever  he  may  select  his  camp. 
It  inhabits  the  woods  along  the  streams  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains down  to  the  Oregon,  and  betrays  but  little  suspicion 
when  approached. 

Richardson's  Owl  is  usually  a  rare  winter  visitor  to  the  Maritime 
Provinces  ;  but  Mr.  C  B.  Cory  found  it  common  and  breeding  on 
the  Magdalene  Islands,  and  a  few  examples  have  been  taken  in 
New  Brunswick  in  summer. 

It  is  common  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
though  rare  near  the  city  of  Quebec ;  it  occurs  sparingly  in  winter 
along  the  northern  border  of  New  England  and  in  southern  Onta- 
rio, and  occasionally  straggles  to  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut. 
Thompson  reports  it  common  in  Manitoba. 


'4%%'.  MWif'^^'' 


BARN   OWL. 

Strix  pratincola. 

Char.  Colors  extremely  variable.  Above,  usually  yellowish  tawny  or 
orange  brown,  clouded  with  darker  tints  and  spotted  w'.th  white ;  beneath, 
buffish  with  dark  spots;  face  white,  tinged  with  tawny;  bill  whitish. 
Some  examples  have  but  little  marking  on  the  back,  and  the  face  and 
lower  parts  are  pure  white.  Easily  distinguished  from  other  Owls  by 
peculiar  facial  disc.     Length  15  to  21  inches. 

JVest.  In  barn  or  church  tower  or  hollow  tree,  —  usually  the  last.  The 
eggs  are  laid  upon  a  mat  of  loosely  laid  twigs  and  weed-stems  or  grass. 

££^^-     3-";  white;  1.75  X  1.30. 

There  is  scarcely  any  part  of  the  world  in  which  this  com- 
mon species  is  not  found  ;  extending  even  to  both  sides  of  the 
equator,  it  is  met  with  in  New  Holland,  India,  and  Brazil.  It 
is  perhaps  nowhere  more  rare  than  in  this  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  is  only  met  with  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey 
in  cold  and  severe  winters.  Nor  is  it  ever  so  familiar  as  in 
Europe,    frequenting   almost   uniformly   the  hollows  of  trees. 


"■^ 


4^« 


7^ 


BIRDS   OF  PREY. 


In  the  old  continent  it  is  almost  domestic,  inhabiting  even  pop- 
ulous tov/ns,  and  is  particularly  attached  to  towers,  belfries, 
the  roofs  of  churches,  and  other  lofty  buildings,  which  afford 
it  a  retreat  during  the  day.  The  elegant,  graphic  lines  of 
Gray,  describing  its  romantic  haunt,  are  in  the  recollection  of 

every  one,  — 

"  From  yonder  ivy-mantled  tower 
The  moping  Owl  does  to  the  moon  complain 
Of  such  as,  wandering  near  her  secret  bower, 
Molest  her  ancient  solitary  reign." 

Superstition  laid  aside,  these  Owls  render  essential  service  to 
the  farmer  by  destroying  mice,  rats,  and  shrews,  which  infest 
houses  and  bams ;  they  also  catch  bats  and  beetles.  They 
likewise  clear  churches  of  such  vermin^  and  now  and  then, 
pressed  by  hunger,  they  have  been  known  to  sip,  or  rather  eat, 
the  oil  from  the  lamps  when  congealed  by  cold.  A  still  more 
extraordinary  appetite,  attributed  to  them,  is  that  of  catch- 
ing fish,  on  which  they  fed  their  voracious  young.  In  autumn 
also  they  have  been  known  to  pay  a  nightly  visit  to  the  places 
where  springes  were  laid  for  Woodcocks  and  Thrushes.  The 
former  they  killed  and  ate  on  the  spot ;  but  sometimes  carried 
off  the  Thrushes  and  smaller  birds,  which,  like  mice,  they  either 
swallowed  entire,  rejecting  the  indigestible  parts  by  the  bill, 
or  if  too  large,  they  plucked  off  the  feathers  and  then  bolted 
them  whole,  or  only  took  them  down  piecemeal. 

In  fine  weather  they  venture  out  into  the  neighboring  woods 
at  night,  returning  to  their  usual  retreat  at  the  approach  of 
morning.  When  they  first  sally  from  their  holes,  their  eyes 
hardly  well  opened,  they  fly  tumbling  along  almost  to  the 
ground,  and  usually  proceed  side-ways  in  their  course.  In 
severe  seasons,  5  or  6,  probably  a  family  brood,  are  discov- 
ered in  the  same  retreat,  or  concealed  in  the  fodder  of  the 
bam,  where  they  find  shelter,  warmth,  and  food.  The  Bam 
Owl  drops  her  eggs  in  the  bare  holes  of  walls,  in  the  joists 
of  houses,  or  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  and  spreads 
no  lining  to  receive  them ;  they  are  3  to  5  in  number,  of  a 
whitish  color,  and  rather  long  than  round. 


BARN  OWL. 


77 


When  out  abroad  by  day,  like  most  of  the  other  species, 
they  are  nuiierously  attended  by  the  little  goe  wiping  and  insult- 
ing birds  of  the  neighborhood ;  and  to  add  to  their  distraction, 
it  is  not  an  uncommon  practice,  in  the  North  of  England,  for 
boys  to  set  up  a  shout  and  follow  the  Owl,  who  becomes  so 
deafened  and  stunned  as  at  times  nearly  to  fall  down,  and 
thus  become  an  easy  prey  to  his  persecutors.  And  the  prob- 
ability of  such  an  effect  will  not  be  surprising  when  we  con- 
sider the  delicacy  and  magnitude  of  the  auditory  apparatus  of 
this  bird,  the  use  of  which  is  probably  necessary  to  discover 
the  otherwise  silent  retreats  of  their  tiny  prey.  When  taken 
captive,  according  to  Buffon,  they  do  not  long  survive  the  loss 
of  liberty,  and  pertinaciously  refuse  to  eat, — a  habit  very  differ- 
ent from  that  of  the  young  Red  Owl,  who  allowed  himself  to 
feed  from  my  hand,  and  tugged  greedily  and  tamely  at  the 
morsel  held  out  to  him  until  he  got  it  in  his  possession  ;  small 
birds  also  he  would  instantly  grasp  in  his  talons,  and  hiss  and 
shaU,  shaie,  when  any  attempt  was  made  to  deprive  him  of  his 
booty. 

The  young  of  this  species,  when  they  have  just  attained  their 
growth,  are,  in  France,  considered  good  food,  as  they  are  then 
fat  and  plump.  When  first  hatched  they  are  so  white  and 
downy  as  almost  entirely  to  resemble  a  powder  puff.  At 
Hudson's  Bay  a  large  Owl,  resembling  the  cinereous,  is  like- 
wise eaten,  and  esteemed  a  delicacy,  according  to  Pennant. 

The  Barn  Owl  occurs  regularly  from  the  Middle  States  south- 
ward, though  it  is  not  abundant  north  of  South  Carolina.  A  few 
examples  have  been  taken  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  and 
Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that  four  have  been  taken  in  Ontario. 


FLORIDA   BURROWING   OWL. 

Speoi-yto  cunicularia  floridana. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown  spotted  and  barred  with  white ;  below, 
pale  huffish  barred  with  brown ;  a  patch  of  white  on  the  breast ;  legs  long 
and  slender,  and  covered  with  huffish  bristles.    Length  about  lo  inches. 

Nest.  At  the  end  of  a  burrow  in  the  ground,  lined  with  grass  and 
feathers. 

Eggs.  4-10;  white,  varying  in  shape,  usually  nearly  round;  1.25 
X  1. 00. 

This  variety,  which  is  found  in  Florida  only,  is  smaller  and  lighter- 
colored  than  is  the  well-known  bird  of  the  prairies.  In  habits  the 
two  differ  little,  the  Florida  birds  living  in  communities,  — sometimes 
several  pairs  in  one  burrow,  —  and  feeding  on  mice  and  small  birds. 
The  tales  related  of  Burrowing  Owls  and  rattlesnakes  occupying 
the  same  burrow  are  "  hunter's  tales,"  and  lack  confirmation. 


Note.  —  The  Western  form  of  the  Burrowing  Owl  {S.  cuni- 
cularia hypogcea,  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts ;  but  its  occur- 
rence to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains  is  accidental. 


I'll 

>  ■■]', 


% 


MEADOW    LARK. 

FIELD   LARK. 

Sturnella  magna. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown  barred  with  black ;  crown  with  medial 
stripe  of  buff;  lateral  tail-feathers  white;  below  yellow,  sides  darker 
and  spotted  with  brown;  black  crescent  on  the  breast.  Length  about 
10  inches. 

JVesf.  Made  of  dry  grass  and  placed  amid  a  tuft  of  long  grass  in 
a  meadow ;  often  covered,  and  the  opening  placed  at  the  side. 

Eggs.  4-6;  white,  thickly  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac; 
1.15  X  .80. 

This  w^ell-known  harmless  inhabitant  of  meadows  and  o/t^ 
fields  is  not  only  found  in  every  part  of  the  United  States,  but 
appears  to  be  a  resident  in  all  the  intermediate  region,  from 
the  frigid  latitude  of  53°  and  the  territory  of  Oregon,  to 
the  mild  table-land  of  Mexico  and  the  savannahs  of  Guiana. 
In  the  winter  these  birds  abound  in  Alabama  and  Western 


9 


I  i.r 


!■  !  \- 


80 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Florida ;  so  that  in  some  degree,  like  the  Jays  and  the  legiti- 
mate Starlings,  they  partially  migrate  in  quest  of  food  during 
the  severity  of  the  weather  in  the  colder  States.  It  is  not,  how- 
ever, improbable  but  that  most  of  the  migrating  families  of  these 
birds,  which  we  find  at  this  season,  have  merely  travelled  east- 
ward from  the  cold  Western  plains  that  are  annually  covered 
with  snow.  They  are  now  seen  in  considerable  numbers  in  and 
round  the  salt-marshes,  roving  about  in  flocks  of  ten  to  thirty 
or  more,  seeking  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast,  though  not  in 
such  dense  flocks  as  the  true  Starlings ;  these,  in  the  manner  of 
our  common  Blackbirds,  assemble  in  winter  Uke  dark  clouds, 
moving  as  one  body,  and  when  about  to  descend,  perform  pro- 
gressive circular  evolutions  in  the  air  like  a  phalanx  in  the 
order  of  battle  ;  and  when  settled,  blacken  the  earth  with  their 
numbers,  as  well  as  stun  the  ears  with  their  chatter.  Like 
Crows  also,  they  seek  the  shelter  of  reed- marshes  to  pass  the 
night,  and  in  the  day  take  the  benefit  of  every  sunny  and  shel- 
tered covert. 

Our  Starling,  like  the  American  Quail,  is  sociable,  and  some- 
what gregarious;  and  though  many,  no  doubt,  wander  some 
distance  after  food,  yet  a  few,  in  Pennsylvania  as  well  as  in 
this  rigorous  climate,  may  be  seen  in  the  market  after  the 
ground  is  covered  -ith  snow.  Wilson  even  observed  them 
in  i^e  month  of  February,  during  a  deep  snow,  among  tl.e 
heights  of  the  AUeghanies,  gleaning  their  scanty  pittance  on 
the  road,  in  company  with  the  small  Snow  Birds. 

The  flesh  of  our  bird  is  white,  and  for  size  and  delicacy  it  is 
considered  little  inferior  to  the  Partridge ;  but  that  of  the  Euro- 
pean species  is  black  and  bitter. 

The  flight  of  these  Larks  is  laborious  and  steady,  like  that 
of  the  Quail,  with  the  action  of  the  wings  renewed  at  short  in- 
tervals. They  often  alight  on  trees,  and  select  usually  the  main 
branches  or  topmost  twigs  on  which  to  perch,  though  their  food 
is  commonly  collected  from  the  ground.  At  various  times  of 
the  day,  and  nearly  through  the  winter,  in  the  milder  States, 
their  very  peculiar  lisping,  long,  and  rather  melancholy  note  is 
heard  at  short  intervals  ;  and  without  the  variations,  which  are 


MEADOW   LARK. 


8l 


not  inconsiderable,  bears  some  resemblance  lo  the  slender  sing- 
ing and  affected  pronunciation  of  ct  se  dee  ah,  and  psi-dee  c/stliOy 
or  tai  sediito  in  a  slow,  wiry,  shrill  tone,  and  sometimes  differ- 
ently varied  and  shortened.  The  same  simple  ditty  is  repeated 
in  the  spring,  when  they  associate  in  pairs ;  the  female  also,  as 
she  rises  or  descends,  at  this  time  frequently  gives  a  reiterated 
guttural  chirp,  or  hurried  twitter,  like  that  of  the  female  Red- 
winged  Blackbird.  I  have  likewise  at  times  heard  them  utter 
notes  much  more  musical  and  vigorous,  not  very  unlike  the  fine 
tones  of  the  Sky  Lark ;  but  I  can  by  no  means  compare  our 
lisping  songster  with  that  blithe  "harbinger  of  day."  There 
is  a  monotonous  affectation  in  the  song  of  our  Lark  which 
appears  indeed  somewhat  allied  to  the  jingling,  though  not 
unpleasant,  tune  of  the  Starling.  The  Stare,  moreover,  had  the 
faculty  of  imitating  human  speech  (which  ours  has  not,  as  far 
as  we  yet  know),  and  could  indifferently  speak  even  French, 
English,  German,  Latin,  and  Greek,  or  any  other  language 
within  nib  hearing,  and  repeat  short  phrases  ;  so  that  "  '  /  can't 
get  outf  I  can't  get  out,'  says  the  Starling,"  which  accidentally 
afforded  Sterne  such  a  beautiful  and  pathetic  subject  for  his 
graphic  pen,  was  probably  no  fiction. 

At  the  time  of  pairing,  our  Lark  exhibits  a  little  of  the 
jealous  disposition  of  his  tribe ;  and  having  settled  the  dispute 
which  decides  his  future  condition,  he  retires  from  his  fra- 
ternity, and,  assisted  by  his  mate,  selects  a  thick  tuft  for  the 
reception  of  his  nest,  which  is  pretty  compact,  made  of  dry, 
wiry  grass,  and  lined  with  finer  blades  of  the  same.  It  is 
usually  formed  with  a  covered  entrance  in  the  surrounding 
withered  grass,  through  which  a  hidden  and  almost  winding 
path  is  made,  and  generally  so  well  concealed  that  the  nest  is 
only  to  be  found  when  the  bird  is  flushed. 

The  eggs  afe  four  or  five,  white,  with  a  very  faint  tint  of 
blue,  almost  round,  and  rather  large,  for  the  size  of  the  bird, 
marked  with  numerous  small  reddish-brown  spots,  more  nu- 
merous at  the  greater  end,  blended  with  other  lighter  and 
darker  points  and  small  spots  of  the  same.  They  probably 
often  raise  two  broods  in  Ihe  season.  About  the  time  of 
VOL.  I.  —  6 


i 


82 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


pairing,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  April,  they  have 
a  call,  like  Ushipy  twee,  the  latter  syllable  in  a  fine  and  slender 
tone,  —  something  again  allied  to  the  occasional  notes  of  the 
Ked-winged  Blackbird,  to  which  genus  {Icterus)  our  Sturnella 
is  not  very  remotely  allied.  Towards  the  close  of  June  little 
else  is  heard  from  the  species  but  the  noisy  twitter  of  the 
female,  preceded  by  a  hoarse  and  sonorous  '/imp  or  y  '//,  ac- 
companied by  an  impatient  raising  and  lowering  of  the  wings, 
and,  in  short,  all  the  unpleasant  and  petulant  actions  of  a 
brood-hen,  as  she  is  now  assiduously  engaged  in  fostering 
and  supporting  her  helpless  and  dependent  offspring. 

Their  food  consists  of  the  larvae  of  various  insects,  as  well  as 
worms,  beetles,  and  grass-seeds,  to  assist  the  digestion  of 
which  they  swallow  a  considerable  portion  of  gravel.  It  does 
not  appear  that  these  birds  add  berries  or  fruits  of  any  kind 
to  their  fare,  like  the  Starling,  but  usually  remain  the  whole 
summer  in  moist  meadows,  and  in  winter  retire  to  the  open 
grassy  woods,  having  no  inclination  to  rob  the  orchard  or  gar- 
den, and,  except  in  winter,  are  of  a  shy,  timid,  and  retiring 
disposition. 

In  the  East  the  Meadow  Lark  seldom  ranges  north  of  latitude  45°. 
I  met  with  but  one  example  in  New  Brunswick,  and  learn  that  it  is 
rare  near  Montreal.  It  is  common  around  Ottawa  and  throughout 
southern  Ontario. 

Note.  —  A  larger  and  paler  form,  named  the  Western  Mead- 
ow Lark  {S.  magna  neglectu  -occurs  in  Wisconsin,  Illinois,  and 
Iowa;  and  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  has  lately  announced  that  the  birds 
found  in  southwestern  Florida  should  be  referred  to  mexicauay 
the  Mexican  Meadow  Lark,  which  is  the  smallest  of  the  three. 

A  stray  Starling  {Sturnus  vulgaris)  is  said  to  have  wandered 
from  Europe  to  Greenland;  and  a  Trovpial  {/c/erus  z'cUrus),  a. 
South  American  bird,  was  taken  by  Audubon  near  Charleston, 
S.  C. 


^ 


ey  have 
slender 
;s  of  the 
turnella 
ne  Httle 
of  the 
//,  ac- 
e  wings, 
ns  of  a 
bstering 

s  well  as 
istion  of 
It  does 
iny  kind 
le  whole 
the  open 
i  or  gar- 
retiring 


itude  45^ 

that  it  is 

iroughout 


N  Mead- 
nois,  and 
the  birds 
next'caua, 
le  three, 
ivandered 
■cterus),  a 
larleston, 


BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 

GOLDEN   ROBIN.     HANG-NEST.    FIRE   BIRD. 

Icterus  galbula. 

Ckar.  Male :  head,  neck,  throat,  back,  wings,  and  greater  part  of 
tail  black  ;  wing-coverts  and  secondaries  tipped  with  white  ;  other  parts 
orange.  Bill  and  feet  blue  black.  Female :  smaller  and  paler,  some- 
times the  black  replaced  by  olive  or  grayish.  Young  similar  to  female. 
Length  7  to  8  inches. 

Nest.  Pensile  and  purse-shaped,  6  to  8  inches  deep,  suspended  from 
extremity  of  branch  10  to  50  feet  from  the  ground,  composed  of  yarn, 
string,  horsehair,  grass,  etc,  woven  into  a  compact  texture. 

Eggs.    4-6 ;  dull  white,  blotched  irregularly  with  dark  brown  ;  .go  X  .60. 


84 


RINGING  BIRDS. 


:^ 


These  gay,  li\cly,  and  brilliant  strangers,  leaving  their  hi- 
bernal retreat  in  South  America,  appear  in  New  England  about 
the  first  week  in  May,  and  more  than  a  month  earlier  in  Loui- 
siana, according  to  the  ol  servations  of  Audubon.  They  were 
not  seen,  however,  in  West  Florida  by  the  middle  of  March, 
although  vegetation  had  then  so  far  advanced  that  the  oaks 
were  in  leaf,  and  the  white  flowering  cornel  was  in  full 
blossom. 

It  is  here  that  they  pass  the  most  interesting  period  of  their 
lives ;  and  their  arrival  is  hailed  as  the  sure  harbinger  of 
approaching  summer.  Full  of  life  and  activity,  these  fiery 
sylphs  are  now  seen  vaulting  and  darting  incessantly  through 
the  lofty  boughs  of  our  tallest  trees ;  appearing  and  vanishing 
with  restless  inquietude,  and  flashing  at  quick  intervals  into 
sight  from  amidst  the  tender  waving  foliage,  they  seem  like 
living  gems  intended  to  decorate  the  verdant  garment  of  the 
new-clad  forest.  But  the  gay  Baltimore  is  neither  idle  nor 
capricious ;  the  beautiful  small  beetles  and  other  active-winged 
insects  on  which  he  now  principally  feeds  are  in  constant  mo- 
tion, and  require  perpetual  address  in  their  capture.  At  first 
the  males  only  arrive,  but  without  appearing  in  flocks ;  their 
mates  are  yet  behind,  and  their  social  delight  is  incomplete. 
They  appear  to  feel  this  temporary  bereavement,  and  in  shrill 
and  loud  notes  they  fife  out  their  tender  plaints  in  quick  suc- 
cession, as  they  pry  and  spring  through  the  shady  boughs  for 
their  tiny  and  eluding  prey.  They  also  now  spend  much  time 
in  the  apple-trees,  often  sipping  honey  from  the  white  blossoms, 
over  which  they  wander  with  peculiar  delight,  continually  roving 
amidst  the  sweet  and  flowery  profusion.  The  mellow  whistled 
notes  which  they  are  heard  to  trumpet  from  the  high  branches 
of  our  tallest  trees  and  gigantic  elms  resemble,  at  times, 
Ushippc-tshayia  too  too,  and  sometimes  Ushippee  Usliipiec 
(lispingly),  too  too  (with  the  two  last  syllables  loud  and  full). 
These  notes  are  also  varied  by  some  birds  so  as  to  resemble 
*/f/i  Ush  Usheetshoo  tshoo  tshoo^  also  'tsh  ^tshcefd  'tshee/d  'tsheefd 

1  The  first  three  of  these  notes  are  derived  from  the  Summer  Yellow  Bird, 
though  not  its  most  usual  tones. 


sings, 


BALTIMORE   ORIOLE. 


85 


their  hi- 
nd about 
in  Loui- 
hey  were 

March, 
the  oaks 

in    full 

i  of  their 
)inger  of 
ese  fiery 
' through 
vanishing 
vals  into 
leem  like 
nt  of  the 
idle  nor 
e- winged 
tant  mo- 
At  first 
ks ;  their 
;omplete, 
.  in  shrill 
uick  suc- 
3ughs  for 
luch  time 
blossoms, 
lly  roving 
whistled 
branches 
It  times, 
Ushipise 
md  full), 
resemble 
a  Usheefd 

ellow  Bird, 


tshflo  and  ^k'iuf  a  t^f  a  tuf  a  tea  kerry ; '  another  bird  I  have 
occasionally  heard  to  call  for  hours,  with  some  little  variation, 
tu  teo  teo  tea  teo  too,  in  a  loud,  querulous,  and  yet  almost  lu- 
dicrously merry  strain.  At  other  intervals  the  sensations  of 
solitude  seem  to  stimulate  sometimes  a  loud  and  interrog- 
atory note,  echoed  forth  at  intervals,  as  k'rry  kerry  ?  and 
terminating  plaintively  k^rry  k'rry  k'rry,  tu;  the  voice  falling 
off  very  slenderly  in  the  last  long  syllable,  which  is  apparently 
an  imitation  from  the  Cardinal  Grosbeak,  and  the  rest  is  de- 
rived fron  the  Crested  Titmouse,  whom  they  have  already 
heard  in  concert  as  they  passed  through  the  warmer  States. 
Another  interrogatory  strain  which  I  heard  here  in  the  spring 
of  1830  was  precisely,  ^yip  k'rry,  ^yip,  'yip  k'rry,  very  loud  and 
oft  repeated.  Another  male  went  in  his  ordinary  key,  tsherry 
tsherry,  uhlpee  tsherry,  —  notes  copied  from  the  exhaustless  stock 
of  the  Carolina  Wren  (also  heard  on  his  passage),  but  modu- 
lated to  suit  the  fancy  of  our  vocalist.  The  female  likewise 
sings,  but  less  agreeably  than  the  male.  One  which  I  had 
abundant  opportunity  of  observing,  while  busied  in  the  toil  of 
weaving  her  complicated  nest,  every  now  and  then,  as  a  relief 
from  the  drudgery  in  which  she  was  solely  engaged,  sung,  in  a 
sort  of  quemlous  and  rather  plaintive  strain,  the  strange,  un- 
couth syllables,  'ka  ''ked  koicd,  keka  keka,  the  final  tones  loud 
and  vaulting,  which  I  have  little  doubt  were  an  imitation  of  the 
discordant  notes  of  some  South  American  bird.  For  many 
days  she  continued  this  tune  at  intervals  without  any  variation. 
The  male,  also  while  seeking  his  food  in  the  same  tree  with  his 
mate,  or  while  they  are  both  attending  on  their  unfledged 
brood,  calls  frequently  in  a  low,  friendly  whisper,  'ttvait,  tia'it. 
Indeed,  all  the  individuals  of  either  sex  appear  pertinaciously 
to  adhere  for  weeks  to  the  same  quaint  syllables  which  they 
have  accidentally  collected. 

This  bird  then,  like  the  Starling,  appears  to  have  a  taste  for 
mimicry,  or  rather  for  sober  imitaiiOn.  A  Cardinal  Grosbeak 
happening,  very  unusually,  to  pay  us  a  visit,  his  harmonious 

'  The  List  phrase  loud  and  ascending,  the  tea  plaintive,  and  the  last  syllable 
tender  and  echoing. 


86 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


l:! 


Ill 


and  bold  whistle  struck  upon  the  ear  of  a  Baltimore  with  great 
delight ;  and  from  that  moment  his  ordinary  notes  were  laid 
aside  for  '7uoit,  'wait,  teu,  and  other  phrases  previously  foreign 
to  him  lOr  that  season.  I  have  likewise  heard  another  individ- 
ual exactly  imitating  the  soft  and  somewhat  plaintive  int  yu, 
v"it  yiu  of  the  same  bird,  and  in  the  next  breath  the  pait,  or 
call  of  Wilson's  Thrush ;  also  at  times  the  earnest  song  of  the 
Robin.  Indeed  his  variations  and  imitations  have  sometimes 
led  me  to  believe  that  I  heard  several  new  and  melodious 
birds,  and  I  was  only  undeceived  when  I  beheld  his  brilliant 
livery.  So  various,  in  fact,  are  the  individual  phrases  chanted 
by  this  restless  and  lively  bird  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  fix 
on  any  characteristic  notes  by  which  he  may  be  recognized ; 
his  singular,  loud,  and  almost  plaintive  tone,  and  a  fondness 
for  harping  long  on  the  same  string,  are  perhaps  more  peculiar 
than  any  particular  syllables  which  he  may  be  heard  to  utter. 
When  alarrr.ed  or  offended  at  being  too  closely  watched  or 
approached,  both  male  and  female  utter  an  angry,  rattling  tshcr 
tshW,  or  hiss,  tsh^  tsJi'  tsh^  Ush. 

The  beautifid  Baltimore  bird  is  only  one  of  the  tribe  of  true 
Icteri,  which,  except  the  present  and  two  following  species, 
remain  within  the  tropical  regions,  or  only  migrate  to  short 
distances  in  the  rainy  season.  Ours  wing  their  way  even 
into  Canada  as  far  as  the  55  th  degree,  and  breed  in  every 
intermediate  region  to  the  table-land  of  Mexico.  A  yellow 
Brazilian  species  of  the  section  of  this  genun,  called  cassicus, 
according  to  Waterton  inhabits  also  Demerara,  where,  like  our 
bird,  he  familiarly  weaves  his  pendulous  nest  near  the  planter's 
house,  suspending  it  from  the  drooping  branches  of  trees,  and 
so  low  that  it  may  be  readily  looked  into  even  by  the  incu- 
rious. Omnivorous  like  the  Starling,  he  feeds  equally  on  insects, 
fruits,  and  seeds.  He  is  called  the  Mocking  Bird,  and  for  hours 
together,  in  gratitude  as  it  were  for  protection,  he  serenades 
the  inhabitants  with  his  imitative  notes.  His  own  song,  though 
short,  is  sweet  and  melodious.  But  hearing  perhaps  the  yelp- 
ing of  the  Toucan,  he  drops  his  native  strain  to  imitate  it,  or 
place  it  in  ridicule  by  contrast.     Again,  he  gives  the  cackling 


BALTIMORE   ORIOLE. 


8; 


th  great 
'ere  laid 
foreign 
individ- 

pait,  or 
g  of  the 
metimes 
elodious 
brilliant 
chanted 
•le  to  fix 
•gnized ; 
bndness 
pecuhar 
to  utter. 
:hed  or 
ng  tshcr 

i  of  true 
species, 
to  short 
ly  even 
n  every 
.  yellow 
assicusy 
like  our 
•lanter's 
:es,  and 
e  incu- 
insects, 
r  hours 
•enades 
though 
e  yelp- 
e  it,  or 
welding 


cries  of  the  Woodpecker,  the  bleating  of  the  sheep ;  an  inter- 
val of  his  own  melody,  then  probably  a  puppy  dog  or  a  Guinea- 
fowl  receives  his  usual  attention :  and  the  whole  of  this  mim- 
icry is  accompanied  by  antic  gestures  indicative  of  the  sport 
and  company  which  :hese  vagaries  afford  him.  Hence  we  see 
that  the  mimicking  talent  of  the  Stare  is  inherent  in  this 
branch  of  the  gregarious  family,  and  our  own  Baltimore,  in  a 
humbler  style,  is  no  less  delighted  with  the  notes  of  his  feathered 
neighbors. 

There  is  nothing  more  remarkable  in  the  whole  instinct  of 
our  Golden  Robin  than  the  ingenuity  displayed  in  the  fabrica- 
tion of  its  nest,  which  is,  in  fact,  a  pendulous  cylindric  pouch 
of  five  to  seven  inches  in  depth,  usually  suspended  from  near 
the  extremities  of  the  high,  drooping  branches  of  trees  (such 
as  the  elm,  the  pear  or  apple  tree,  wild-cherry,  weeping-willow, 
tulip-tree,  or  buttonwood).  It  is  begun  by  firmly  fastening 
natural  strings  of  the  flax  of  the  silk-weed,  or  swamp- holy  hock, 
or  stout  artificial  threads,  round  two  or  more  forked  twigs, 
corresponding  to  the  intended  width  and  depth  of  the  nest. 
VV^ith  the  same  materials,  willow  down,  or  any  accidental  ravel- 
lings,  strings,  thread,  sewing-silk,  tow,  or  wool,  that  may  be 
lying  near  the  neighboring  houses,  or  round  the  grafts  of  trees, 
ii  interweaves  and  fabricates  a  sort  of  coarse  cloth  into  the 
form  intended,  towards  the  bottom  of  which  is  placed  the 
real  nest,  made  chiefly  of  lint,  wiry  grass,  horse  and  cow  hair, 
sometimes,  in  defect  of  hair,  lining  the  interior  with  a  mixture 
of  slender  strips  of  smooth  vine- bark,  and  rarely  with  a  few 
feathers,  the  whole  being  of  a  considerable  thickness,  and 
more  or  less  attached  to  the  external  pouch.  Over  the  top, 
the  leaves,  as  they  grow  out,  form  a  verdant  and  agreeable 
canoy,  defending  the  young  from  the  sun  and  rain.  There  is 
sometimes  a  considerable  difference  in  the  manufacture  of 
these  nests,  as  well  as  in  the  materials  which  enter  into  their 
composition.  Both  sexes  seem  to  be  equally  adepts  at  this 
sort  of  labor,  and  I  have  seen  the  female  alone  perform  the 
whole  without  any  assistance,  and  the  male  also  complete  this 
laborious  task  nearly  without  the  aid  of  his  consort,  —  who,  how- 


88 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


ever,  in  general,  is  the  principal  worker.  I  have  observed  a 
nest  made  almost  wholly  of  tow,  which  was  laid  out  for  the 
convenience  of  a  male  bird,  who  with  this  aid  completed  his 
labor  in  a  very  short  time,  and  frequently  sang  in  a  very  ludi- 
crous manner  while  his  mouth  was  loaded  with  a  mass  larger 
than  his  head.  So  eager  are  these  birds  to  obtain  fibrous  ma- 
terials that  they  will  readily  tug  at  and  even  untie  hard  knots 
made  of  tow.  In  Audubon's  magnificent  plates  a  nest  is  rep- 
resented as  formed  outwardly  of  the  long-moss ,  where  this 
abounds,  of  course,  the  labor  of  obtaining  materials  must  be 
greatly  abridged.  The  author  likewise  remarks  that  the  whole 
fabric  consists  almost  entirely  of  this  material,  loosely  inter- 
woven, without  any  warm  lining,  —  a  labor  which  our  ingenious 
artist  seems  aware  would  be  superfluous  in  the  warm  forests  of 
the  lower  Mississippi.  A  female,  which  I  observed  attentively, 
carried  off  to  her  nest  a  piece  of  lamp-wick  ten  or  twelve  feet 
long.  This  long  string,  and  many  other  shorter  ones,  were  left 
hanging  out  for  about  a  week  before  both  the  ends  were  wat- 
tled into  the  sides  of  the  nest.  Some  other  little  birds,  making 
use  of  similar  materials,  at  times  twitched  these  flowing  ends, 
and  generally  brought  out  the  busy  Baltimore  from  her  occupa- 
tion in  great  anger. 

The  haste  and  eagerness  of  one  of  these  airy  architects, 
which  I  "^  .  'dentally  observed  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, appeared  likely  to  prove  fatal  to  a  busy  female  who, 
in  weaving,  got  a  loop  round  her  neck ;  and  no  sooner  was  she 
disc;  gaged  from  this  snare  than  it  was  slipped  round  her  feet, 
and  thus  held  her  fast  beyond  the  power  of  escape  !  The  male 
came  frequently  to  the  scene,  now  changed  from  that  of  joy 
and  hope  into  despair,  but  seemed  wholly  incapable  of  com- 
prehending or  relieving  the  distress  of  his  mate.  In  a  second 
instance  I  have  been  told  that  a  female  has  been  observed 
dead  in  the  like  predicament. 

The  eggs  of  this  species  are  usually  four  or  five,  white,  with 
a  faint,  indistinct  tint  of  bluish,  and  marked,  chiefly  at  the 
greater  end,  though  sometimes  scatteringly,  with  straggling, 
serpentine,  dark-brown  lines  and  spots,  and  fointer  hair  streaks, 


BALTIMORE   ORIOLE. 


89 


looking  sometimes  almost  like  real  hair,  and  occasionally  lined 
only,  and  without  the  spots.  The  period  of  incubation  is  four- 
teen days.  In  Louisiana,  according  to  Audubon,  they  fre- 
quently raise  two  broods  in  the  season,  arriving  in  that  country 
with  the  opening  of  the  early  spring.  Here  they  raise  but  a 
single  brood,  whose  long  and  tedious  support  in  their  lofty 
cradle  absorbs  their  whole  attention ;  and  at  this  interesting 
period  they  seem,  as  it  were,  to  live  only  to  protect,  cherish, 
and  educate  their  young.  The  first  and  general  cry  which  the 
infant  brood  utter  while  yet  in  the  nest,  and  nearly  able  to 
take  wing,  as  well  as  for  some  days  after,  is  a  kind  of  te-did  tc- 
did,  te-did,  kai-te- te-did,  or  'te  Ue'te  'ie  Tt  ^t-did,  which  becomes 
clamorous  as  the  parents  approach  them  with  food.  They  soon 
also  acquire  the  scolding  rattle  and  short  notes  which  they 
probably  hear  around  them,  such  as  pect-tveet,  the  cry  of  the 
spotted  Sandpiper,  and  others,  and  long  continue  to  be  assidu- 
ously fed  and  guarded  by  their  very  affectionate  and  devoted 
parents.  Unfortunately,  this  contrivance  of  instinct  to  secure 
the  airy  nest  from  the  depredations  of  rapacious  monkeys,  and 
other  animals  which  frequent  trees  in  warm  or  mild  climates, 
is  also  occasionally  attended  with  serious  accidents,  when  the 
young  escape  before  obtaining  the  perfect  use  of  their  wings. 
They  cling,  however,  with  great  tenacity  either  to  the  nest  or 
neighboring  twigs ;  yet  sometimes  they  fall  to  the  ground,  and, 
if  not  killed  on  the  spot,  soon  become  a  prey  to  numerous 
enemies.  On  such  occasions  it  is  painful  to  hear  the  plaints 
and  wailing  cries  of  the  parents.  And  when  real  danger  offers, 
the  generous  and  brilliant  male,  though  much  the  less  queru- 
lous of  the  two,  steps  in  to  save  his  brood  at  every  hazard  ;  and 
I  have  known  one  so  bold  in  this  hopeless  defence  as  to  suffer 
himself  to  be  killed,  by  a  near  approach  with  a  stick,  rather 
than  desert  his  offspring.  Sometimes,  after  this  misfortune,  or 
when  the  fell  cat  has  devoured  the  helpless  brood,  day  after 
day  the  disconsolate  parents  continue  to  bewail  their  loss. 
They  almost  forget  to  eat  amidst  their  distress,  and  after  leav- 
ing the  unhappy  neighborhood  of  their  bereavement,  they  still 
come,  at  intervals,  to  visit  and  lament  over  the  fatal  spot,  as  if 


III 


I 

1  i 


•\\ 


go 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


spell-bound  by  despair.  If  the  season  be  not  too  far  advanced, 
the  loss  of  their  eggs  is  generally  soon  repaired  by  constructing 
a  second  nest,  in  which,  however,  the  eggs  are  fewer. 

The  true  Oriole  (O.  galbula),  which  migrates  into  Africa, 
and  passes  the  breeding  season  in  the  centre  of  Europe,  also 
makes  a  pendulous  nest,  and  displays  great  courage  in  the  de- 
fence of  its  young,  being  so  attached  to  its  progeny  that  the 
female  has  been  taken  and  conveyed  to  a  cage  on  her  eggs,  on 
which,  with  resolute  and  fatal  instinct,  she  remained  faithfully 
sitting  until  she  expired. 

The  Baltimore  bird,  though  naturally  shy  and  suspicious, 
probably  for  greater  security  from  more  dangerous  enemies, 
generally  chooses  for  the  nest  the  largest  and  tallest  spreading 
trees  near  farm-houses,  and  along  frequented  lanes  and  roads ; 
and  trusting  to  the  inaccessibleness  of  its  ingenious  mansion, 
it  works  fearlessly  and  scarcely  studies  concealment.  But 
as  soon  as  the  yo  .g  are  hatched,  here,  towards  the  close  of 
June,  the  whole  family  begin  to  leave  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  their  cares,  flit  through  the  woods,  —  a  shy,  roving,  and 
nearly  silent  train  ;  and  when  ready  for  the  distant  journey  be- 
fore them,  about  the  e  id  of  August  or  beginning  of  September, 
the  whole  at  once  disappear,  and  probably  arrive,  as  with  us, 
amidst  the  forests  of  South  America  in  a  scattered  flock,  and 
continue,  like  Starlings,  to  pass  the  winter  in  celibacy,  wholly 
engaged  in  gleaning  a  quiet  subsistence  until  the  return  of 
spring.  Then,  incited  by  instinct  to  prepare  for  a  more  pow- 
erful passion,  they  again  wing  thf:ir  way  to  the  regions  of  the 
north,  where,  but  for  this  wonderful  instinct  of  migration,  the 
whole  race  would  perish  in  a  single  season.  As  the  sexes 
usually  arrive  in  different  flocks,  it  is  evident  that  the  conjugal 
tie  ceases  at  the  period  of  migration,  and  the  choice  of  mates 
is  renewed  with  the  season ;  during  which  the  males,  and 
sometimes  also  the  females,  carry  on  their  jealous  disputes 
with  much  obstinacy. 

Th3t  our  Oriole  is  not  familiar  with  us,  independent  of  the 
all-powerful  natural  impulse  which  he  obeys,  is  sufficiently 
obvious  when  he  nests  in  the  woods.     Two  of  these  solitary 


:  fW 


BALTIMORE   ORIOLE. 


91 


and  retiring  pairs  had  this  summer,  contrary  to  their  usual 
habits,  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  lofty  branches  of  a  gigantic 
Buttonwood  in  the  forest.  As  soon  as  we  appeared  they  took 
the  alarm,  and  remained  uneasy  and  irritable  until  we  were 
wholly  out  of  sight.  Others,  again,  visit  the  heart  of  the  popu- 
lous city,  and  pour  forth  their  wild  and  plaintive  songs  from  the 
trees  which  decorate  the  streets  and  gardens,  amid  the  din  of 
the  passing  crowd  and  the  tumult  of  incessant  and  noisy  occu- 
pations. Audubon  remarks  that  their  migrations  are  performed 
singly  and  during  the  day,  and  that  they  proceed  high,  and  fly 
straight  and  continuous. 

The  food  of  the  Baltimore  appears  to  be  small  caterpillars,  — 
sometimes  those  of  the  apple-trees,  —  some  uncommon  kinds 
of  beetles,  cimices,  and  small  flies,  like  a  species  of  cynips. 
Occasionally  I  have  seen  an  individual  collecting  Cicindeli  by 
the  sides  of  sandy  and  gravelly  roads.  They  feed  their  young 
usually  with  soft  caterpillars,  which  they  swallow,  and  disgorge 
on  arriving  at  the  nest ;  and  in  this  necessary  toil  both  sexes 
£  iSiduously  unite.  They  seldom  molest  any  of  the  fruits  of  our 
gardens,  except  a  few  cherries  and  mulberries,  and  are  the 
most  harmless,  useful,  beautiful,  and  common  birds  of  the 
country.  They  are,  however,  accused  of  sometimes  accom- 
panying their  young  to  the  garden  peas,  which  they  devour 
while  small  and  green ;  and  being  now  partly  gregarious,  the 
damage  they  commit  is  at  times  rendered  visible.  Occasionally 
they  are  seen  in  cages,  being  chiefly  fed  on  soaked  bread,  or 
meal  and  water;  they  appear  also  fond  of  cherries,  straw- 
berries, currants,  raisins,  and  figs,  so  that  we  may  justly 
consider  them,  like  the  Cassicans  and  Starlings,  as  omnivorous, 
though  in  a  less  degree.  They  sing  and  appear  lively  in  con- 
finement or  domestication,  and  become  very  docile,  playful, 
and  frien  .ly,  even  going  in  and  out  of  the  house,  and  some- 
times alighting  at  a  whistle  on  the  hand  of  their  protector. 
The  young  for  a  while  require  to  be  fed  on  animal  food  alone, 
and  the  most  suitable  appears  to  be  fresh  minced  meat,  soaked 
in  new  milk.  In  this  way  they  may  be  easily  raised  almost 
from  the  first  hatching ;  but  at  this  time  vegetable  substances 


92 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


i 


appear  to  afford  them  no  kind  of  nutrition,  and  at  all  times 
they  will  thrive  better  if  indulged  with  a  little  animal  food  or 
insects,  as  well  as  hard-boiled  eggs. 

The  summer  range  of  this  beautiful  bird  in  the  fur  countries 
extends  to  the  55  th  degree  of  latitude,  arriving  on  the  plains 
of  the  Saskatchewan,  according  to  Richardson,  about  the  i  oth 
of  May,  or  nearly  as  early  as  their  arrival  in  Massachusetts. 
Those  which  thus  visit  the  wilds  of  Canada  in  all  probability 
proceed  at  once  from  Mexico,  or  ascend  the  great  valley  of 
the  Mississippi  and   Missouri. 

I  have  had  a  male  bird  in  a  state  of  domestication  raised  from 
the  nest  very  readily  on  fresh  minced  meat  soaked  in  milk. 
When  established,  his  principal  food  was  scalded  Indian  corn- 
meal,  on  which  he  fed  contentedly,  but  was  also  fond  of  sweet 
cakes,  insects  of  all  descriptions,  and  nearly  every  kind  of  fruit. 
In  short,  he  ale  everything  he  would  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
did  not  refuse  to  taste  and  eat  of  everything  but  the  condi- 
ments which  enter  into  the  multifarious  diet  of  the  human 
species  :  he  was  literally  omnivorous. 

No  bird  could  become  more  tame,  allowing  himself  to  be 
handled  with  patient  indifference,  and  sometimes  with  play- 
fulness. The  singular  mechanical  application  of  his  bill  was 
remarkable,  and  explains  at  once  the  ingenious  art  employed 
by  the  species  in  weaving  their  nest.  If  the  folded  hand  was 
presented  to  our  familiar  Oriole,  he  endeavored  to  open  it  by 
inserting  his  pointed  and  straight  bill  betwixt  the  closed  fingers, 
and  then  by  pressing  open  the  bill  with  great  muscular  force, 
in  the  manner  of  an  opening  pair  of  compasses,  he  contrived, 
if  the  force  was  not  great,  to  open  the  hand  and  examine  its 
contents.  If  brought  to  the  face  he  did  the  same  with  the 
mouth,  and  would  try  hard  to  open  the  closed  teeth.  In  this 
way,  by  pressing  open  any  yielding  interstice,  he  could  readily 
insert  the  threads  of  his  nest,  and  pass  them  through  an  infinity 
of  openings,  so  as  to  form  the  ingenious  net- work  or  basis  of  his 
suspensory  and  procreant  cradle. 

This  is  a  familiar  bird  throughout  the  greater  part  of  this  faunal 
province  north  to  the  southern  portions  of  Ontario  and  Quebec, 


;  ?'! 


^3 


ORCHARD    ORIOLE. 


93 


and  it  occurs  sparingly  in  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia.    It 
winters  southward  to  Panama. 


Note.  -  ■  A  single  example  of  Bullock's  Oriole  {Icterus 
bullocki),  which  was  shot  near  Bangor,  Maine,  in  1889,  gives  this 
species  a  right  to  be  mentioned  here.  The  usual  ha'^tat  of  this 
species  is  between  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rockies  and  the  Tacilic 
coast. 


ORCHARD  ORIOLE. 

Icterus  spurius. 

Char.  Male  :  head,  neck,  back,  wings,  and  tail  black ;  other  parts 
chestnut,  deepest  on  breast.  Female  :  yellowish  olive  inclining  to  brown  ; 
wings  dusky  brown  with  2  white  bands ;  beneath,  olive  yellow.  Voung 
similar  to  female.     Length  6  to  7^  inches. 

N'est.  A  handsome  basket-like  structure,  about  4  inches  in  depth, 
composed  of  grasses  woven  into  a  smooth  firm  fabric,  and  lined  with 
feathers  or  other  soft  material.  It  is  sometimes  partly  supported  in  the 
forks  of  small  twigs,  and  often  entirely  pendent.  Usually  about  10  feet 
from  the  ground  and  near  the  end  of  the  branch. 

E^K^-  3~6  (generally  4) ;  white  with  blue  or  green  tint,  irregularly 
marked  with  lilac  and  brown ;  .80  X  .60. 

This  smaller  and  plainer  species  has  many  of  the  habits  of 
the  Baltimore  bird,  and  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  a  week 
later.  They  enter  the  southern  boundary  of  the  United  States 
early  in  March,  and  remain  there  until  October.  They  do  not 
however,  I  believe,  often  migrate  farther  north  and  east  than 
the  State  of  Connecticut.  I  have  never  seen  or  heard  of  them 
in  Massachusetts,  any  more  than  my  scientific  friend,  and  close 
observer,  Mr.  C.  Pickering.  Their  stay  in  the  United  States,  it 
appears  from  Wilson,  is  little  more  than  four  months,  as  they 
retire  to  South  America  early  in  September,  or  at  least  do  not 
winter  in  the  Southern  States.  According  to  my  friend  Mr. 
Ware,  they  breed  at  Augusta,  in  Georgia ;  and  Mr.  Say  ob- 
served the  Orchard  Oriole  at  Major  Long's  winter  quarters  on 
the  banks  of  the  Missouri.  Audubon  has  also  observe!  the 
species  towards  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  as  well  as  in  the 
State  o*'  Maine.     The  same  author  likewise  remarks  that  their 


1! 

'I 


!  ilM  I 


94 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


northern  migrations,  like  those  of  the  Haltimore  bird,  are  jier- 
formecl  by  day,  and  that  the  males  arrive  a  week  or  ten  days 
sooner  than  their  mates.  They  appear  to  affect  the  elevated 
and  airy  regions  of  the  Alleghany  mountains,  where  they  are 
much  more  numerous  than  the  IJaltimore. 

The  Orchard  Oriole  is  an  exceedingly  active,  sprightly,  and 
restless  bird  ;  in  the  same  instant  almost,  he  is  on  the  ground 
after  some  fallen  insect,  fluttering  amidst  the  foliage  of  the 
trees,  prying  and  springing  after  his  lurking  prey,  or  flying  and 
tuning  his  lively  notes  in  a  manner  so  hurried,  rapitl,  and 
seemingly  confused  that  the  ear  is  scarce  able  to  thread  out 
the  shrill  and  lively  tones  of  his  agitated  ditty,  lietween  these 
hiiTied  attempts  he  also  gives  others,  which  are  distinct  and 
agreeable,  and  not  unlike  the  sweet  warble  of  the  Red-Breasted 
Grosbeak,  though  more  brief  and  less  varied.  In  choosing  the 
situation  of  his  nest  he  is  equally  familiar  with  the  Baltimore 
Oriole,  and  seems  to  enjoy  the  general  society  of  his  species, 
suspending  his  most  ingenious  and  pensile  fabric  from  the 
bending  twig  of  the  apple-tree,  which,  like  the  nest  of  the 
other,  is  constructed  in  the  form  of  a  pouch  from  three  to  five 
inches  in  depth,  according  to  the  strength  or  flexibility  of  the 
tree  on  which  he  labors  ;  so  that  in  a  weeping- willow,  according 
to  Wilson,  the  nest  is  one  or  two  inches  deeper  than  if  in  an 
apple-tree,  to  obviate  the  danger  of  throwing  out  the  eggs  and 
young  by  the  sweep  of  the  long,  pendulous  branches.  It  is 
likewise  slighter,  as  the  crowding  leaves  of  that  tree  afford  a 
natural  shelter  of  considerable  thickness.  That  economy  of 
this  kind  should  be  studied  by  the  Orchard  Oriole  will  scarcely 
surprise  so  much  as  the  laborious  ingenuity  and  beautiful  tissue 
of  its  nest.  It  is  made  exteriorly  of  a  fine  woven  mat  of  long, 
tough,  and  flexible  grass,  as  if  darned  with  a  needle.  The 
form  is  hemispherical,  and  the  inside  is  lined  with  downy 
subptances,  —  sometimes  the  wool  of  the  seeds  of  the  Button- 
wood,  —  forming  thus  a  commodious  and  soft  bed  for  the  young. 
This  precaution  of  a  warm  lining,  as  in  the  preceding  species, 
is,  according  to  Audubon,  dispensed  with  in  the  warm  climate 
of  Louisiana.     The  eggs  are  4  or  5,  of  a  very  pale    bluish 


ORCHARD   0RK)M:. 


95 


tint,  with  a  few  points  of  brown,  and  spots  of  dark  pi:rplc, 
chiefly  disposed  at  the  greater  end.  The  female  sits  about 
14  days,  and  the  young  continue  in  the  nest  10  days  before 
they  become  (luaUfied  to  flit  along  with  their  parents  ;  but 
they  are  generally  seen  abroad  about  the  middle  of  June. 
Previously  to  their  departure,  the  young,  leaving  the  care  of 
their  parents,  become  gregarious,  and  assemble  sometimes  in 
flocks  of  separate  sexes,  from  30  to  40  or  upwards, —  in  the 
South  frequenting  the  savannahs,  feeding  much  on  crickets, 
grasshoppers,  and  spiders  ;  and  at  this  season  their  flesh  is  much 
esteemed  by  the  inhabitants.  Wilson  found  them  easy  to  raise 
from  the  nest,  but  does  not  say  on  what  they  were  fed,  though 
they  probably  retjuire  the  same  treatment  as  the  liaitimore 
Oriole.  According  to  .Audubon,  they  sing  with  great  liveliness 
in  cages,  being  fed  on  rice  and  dry  fruits  when  fresh  cannot  be 
procured.  Their  ordinary  diet,  it  appears,  is  caterpillars  and 
insects,  of  which  they  destroy  great  (juantities.  In  the  course 
of  the  season  they  likewise  feed  on  various  kinds  of  juicy  fruits 
and  berries  ;  but  their  depredations  on  the  fmits  of  the  orchard 
are  very  unimportant. 

This  is  a  summer  visitor  throughout  the  Eastern  States,  though 
not  common  north  of  the  Connecticut  valley.  It  occurs  regularly 
in  -Massachusetts  and  southern  Ontario,  and  has  been  taken  in 
Maine  and  New  Brunswick. 


•  RED-WINGED   BLACKBIRD. 

Agelaius  phceniceus. 

Char.  Male.-  black;  lesser  wing-coverts  vermilion,  bordered  with 
buff.  Female ;  above,  blackish  brown  streaked  with  paler  and  grayish  ; 
lower  parts  dusky  white  streaked  with  reddish  brown  ;  sometimes  wing- 
coverts  have  a  reddish  tinge.  Young  like  female,  but  colors  deeper. 
Length  7^  to  10  inches. 

A^cst.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  or  on  a  bush;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  and 
mud,  lined  with  soft  grass. 

Egs^s.  3-5 ;  color  varies  from  bluish  white  to  greenish  blue,  blotched, 
streaked,  and  spotted  with  lilac  and  dark  brown ;  size  variable,  average 
about  1. 00  X  .90. 

The  Red- Winged  Troopial  in  summer  inhabits  the  whole  of 
North  America  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Mexico,  and  is  found  in 
the  interior  from  the  53d  degree  across  the  whole  continent  to 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific  and  along  the  coast  as  far  as  Cali 
fornia.  They  are  migratory  north  of  Maryland,  but  pass  the 
winter  and  summer  in  great  numbers  in  all  the  Southern  States, 
frequenting  chiefly  the  settlements  and  rice  and  corn  fields ; 
towards  the  sea- coast,  where  they  move  about  like  blackening 
clouds,  rising  suddenly  at  times  with  a  noise  like  thunder,  and 
exhibiting  amidst  the  broad  shadows  of  their  funereal  plumage 
the  bright  flashing  of  the  vermilion  with  which  their  wings  are 
so  singularly  decorated.  After  whirling  and  waving  a  little 
distance  like  the  Starling,  they  descend  as  a  torrent,  and,  dark- 


RED-WINGED   BLACKBIRD. 


97 


ening  the  branches  of  the  trees  by  their  numbers,  they  com- 
mence a  general  concert  that  may  be  heard  for  more  th;m  two 
miles.  This  music  seems  to  be  something  betwixt  chattering 
and  warbling,— jingling  Hquid  notes  like  those  of  the  Ilobolink, 
with  their  peculiar  kong-quer-ree  and  hob  a  h\  o-bob  a  Ice ;  then 
complaining  chirps,  jars,  and  sounds  like  saw-filing,  or  the 
motion  of  a  sign-board  on  its  rusty  hinge  ;  the  whole  constitu- 
ting a  novel  and  sometimes  grand  chorus  of  discord  and 
harmony,  in  which  the  performers  seem  in  good  earnest,  and 
bristle  up  their  feathers  as  if  inclined  at  least  to  make  up  in 
quantity  what  their  show  of  music  may  lack  in  quality. 

When  their  food  begins  to  fail  in  the  fields,  they  assemble 
with  the  Purple  Grakles  very  familiarly  around  the  corn-cribs 
and  in  the  barn-yards,  greedily  and  dexterously  gleaning  up 
everything  within  their  reach.  In  the  month  of  March  Mr. 
Bullock  found  them  very  numerous  and  bold  near  the  city  of 
Mexico,  where  they  followed  the  mules  to  steal  a  tithe  of  their 
barley. 

From  the  beginning  of  March  to  April,  according  to  the 
nature  of  the  season,  they  begin  to  visit  the  Northern  States  in 
scattered  parties,  flying  chiefly  in  the  morning.  As  they  wing 
their  way  they  seem  to  relieve  their  mutual  toil  by  friendly 
chatter,  and  being  the  harbingers  of  spring,  their  faults  are 
forgot  in  the  instant,  and  we  cannot  help  greeting  them  as  old 
acquaintances  in  spite  of  their  predatory  propensities.  Selec- 
ting their  accustomed  resort,  they  make  the  low  meadows 
resound  again  with  their  notes,  particularly  in  the  morning  and 
evening  before  retiring  to  or  leaving  the  roost;  previous  to 
settling  themselves  for  the  night,  and  before  parting  in  the 
day,  they  seem  all  to  join  in  a  general  chonis  of  liquid  warb- 
ling tones,  which  would  be  very  agreeable  but  for  the  inter- 
ruption of  the  plaints  and  jarring  sounds  with  which  it  is 
blended.  They  continue  to  feed  in  small  parties  in  swamps 
and  by  slow  streams  and  ponds  till  the  middle  or  close  of 
April,  when  they  begin  to  separate  in  pairs.  Sometimes,  how- 
ever, they  appear  to  be  partly  polygamous,  like  their  cousins 
the  Cow  Troopials ;  as  amidst  a  number  of  females  engaged  in 

VOL.   1.  —  7 


■i'l 


;i: ! 


98 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


incubation,  but  few  of  the  other  sex  appear  associated  with 
them  ;  and  as  among  the  Bobolinks,  sometimes  two  or  three  of 
the  males  may  be  seen  in  chase  of  an  individual  of  the  other 
sex,  but  without  making  any  contest  or  show  of  jealous  feud 
with  each  other,  as  a  concubinage  rather  than  any  regular 
mating  seems  to  prevail  among  the  species. 

Assembled  again  in  their  native  marshes,  the  male  perched, 
upon  the  summit  of  some  bush  surrounded  by  water,  in  com- 
pany with  his  mates,  now  sings  out,  at  short  intervals,  his 
guttural  kong-qiier-ree,  sharply  calls  ftshiah,  or  when  disturbed, 
plaintively  utters  'ttshay  ;  to  which  his  companions,  not  insen- 
sible to  these  odd  attentions,  now  and  then  return  a  gratulatory 
caclle  or  reiterated  chirp,  like  that  of  the  native  Meadow 
Lark.  As  a  pleasant  and  no'  el,  though  not  unusual,  accompa- 
nimerit,  perhaps  the  great  bull-frog  elevates  his  green  head 
and  brassy  eyes  from  the  stagnant  pool,  and  calls  out  in  a  loud 
and  echoing  bellow,  Hv'rroo,  ^warroo,  ^worrorroo,  ^bodroo,  which 
is  again  answered,  or,  as  it  were,  merely  varied  by  the  creaking 
or  cackling  voice  of  his  feathered  neighbors.  This  curious 
concert,  uttered  as  it  were  from  the  still  and  sable  waters  of 
tho  Styx,  is  at  once  both  ludicrous  and  solemn. 

/ibviut  the  *?nd  of  April  or  early  in  May,  in  the  middle  and 
north^^ni  parts  of  the  Union,  the  Red-Winged  Blackbirds  com- 
mence constructing,  their  nests.  The  situation  made  choice  of 
is  generally  iii  some  marsh,  swamp,  or  wet  meadow,  abounding 
with  alder  {Alnus)  or  button-bushes  ( Cephaianfhns)  ;  in  these, 
commonly  at  the  height  of  five  to  seven  feet  from  the  ground, 
or  sometimes  in  a  detached  bush  or  tussock  of  rank  grass  in 
the  meadow,  the  nest  is  formed.  Outwardly  it  is  composed  of 
a  considerable  quantity  of  the  long  dry  leaves  of  sedge-grass 
(Girex),  or  other  hinds  collected  in  wet  situations,  and  occa- 
sionally the  slender  leaves  of  the  flag  (Iris)  carried  round  all 
the  adjoining  twigs  of  the  bush  by  way  of  support  or  suspen- 
sion, and  sometimes  blended  with  strips  of  the  lint  of  the 
swamp  Asckpias,  or  silk- weed  {Asckpias  incarnata).  The 
whole  of  this  exterior  structure  is  also  twisted  in  and  out,  and 
carried  in  loops  from  one  side  of  the  nest  to  the  other,  pretty 


RED-WINGED   BLACKBIRD. 


99 


much  in  the  manner  of  the  Orioles,  but  made  of  less  flexible 
and  handsome  materials.  The  large  interstices  that  remain,  as 
well  as  the  bottom,  are  then  filled  in  with  rotten  wood,  marsh- 
grass  roots,  fibrous  peat,  or  mud,  so  as  to  form,  when  dry,  a 
stout  and  substantial,  though  concealed  shell,  the  whole  very 
well  lined  with  fine  dry  stalks  of  grass  or  with  slender  rushes 
{Sctrpt).  When  the  nest  is  in  a  tussock,  it  is  also  tied  to  the 
adjoining  stalks  of  herbage ;  but  when  on  the  ground  this  pre- 
caution of  fixity  is  laid  aside.  The  eggs  are  from  3  to  5, 
white,  tinged  with  blue,  marked  with  faint  streaks  of  light  pur- 
ple, and  long,  straggling,  serpentine  lines  and  dashes  of  very 
dark  brown ;  the  markings  not  very  numerous,  and  disposed 
almost  wholly  at  the  greater  end.  They  raise  two  broods  com- 
monly in  the  season.  If  the  nest  is  approached  while  the 
female  is  sitting,  or  when  the  young  are  hatched,  loud  cries  of 
alanri  are  made  by  both  parties,  but  more  particularly  by  the 
restless  male,  who  flies  to  meet  the  intruder,  and  generally 
brings  together  the  whole  sympathizing  company  of  his  fcilovvs, 
whose  nests  sometimes  are  within  a  few  yards  of  each  other. 
The  female  cries  ^quedh,  ^piiecih,  and  at  length,  when  the  mis- 
chief they  dreaded  is  accomplished,  the  louder  notes  give  way 
to  others  which  are  more  still,  slow,  and  mournful ;  one  of 
which  resembles  fai,  faiy  or  tea  and  ftsheiih.  When  the  young 
are  taken  or  destroyed,  the  pair  continue  restless  and  dejected 
for  several  days ;  but  from  the  force  of  their  gregarious  habit 
they  again  commence  building,  usually  soon  after,  in  the  same 
meadow  or  swamp  with  their  neighbors.  In  the  latter  i)art  of 
July  and  August  the  young  birds,  now  resembling  the  female, 
begin  to  fly  in  flocks  and  release  themselves  partly  from  depen- 
dence on  their  parents,  whose  cares  up  ^o  this  time  are  faithful 
and  unremitting ;  a  few  males  only  seem  inclined  to  stay  and 
direct  their  motions. 

About  the  beginning  of  September  these  flocks,  by  their 
formidable  numbers,  do  great  damage  to  the  unripe  corn» 
which  is  now  a  favorite  repast ;  and  they  are  sometimes  seen 
whirling  and  driving  over  the  devoted  cornfields  and  meadows 
so  as  to  darken  the  air  with  their  numbers.     The  destruction 


■If- ' 


N 


lOO 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


at  this  time  made  among  them  by  the  gun  and  the  Hawks  pro- 
duces but  little  effect  upon  the  remainder,  who  continue  fear- 
lessly, and  in  spite  of  all  opposition,  from  morning  to  night 
to  ravage  the  cornfields  while* anything  almost  remains  to  be 
eaten.  The  farms  near  the  sea-coast,  or  alluvial  situations, 
however,  are  their  favorite  haunts;  and  towards  the  close  of 
September,  the  corn  becoming  hard,  it  is  at  length  rejected  for 
the  seeds  of  the  wild  rice  {Zizania  aquaHca)  and  other  aquatic 
plants,  which  now  begin  to  ripen,  and  afford  a  more  harmless 
and  cheap  repast  to  these  dauntless  marauders.  At  this  time, 
also,  they  begin  to  roost  in  the  reeds,  whither  they  repair  in 
large  flocks  every  evening  from  all  the  neighboring  quarters  of 
the  country ;  upon  these  they  perch  or  cling,  so  as  to  obtain  a 
support  above  the  surrounding  waters  of  the  marsh.  When 
the  reeds  become  dry,  advantage  is  taken  of  the  circumstance 
to  destroy  these  unfortunate  gormandizers  by  fire ;  and  those 
who  might  escape  the  flames  are  shot  down  in  vast  numbers  as 
they  hover  and  scream  around  the  spreading  conflagration. 
Early  in  November  they  generally  leave  the  Northern  and 
colder  States,  with  the  exception  of  straggling  parties,  who 
still  continue  to  glean  subsistence,  in  the  shelter  of  the  sea- 
coast,  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  even  in  the  cold  climate  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts.* 

To  those  who  seem  inclined  to  extirpate  these  erratic  depre- 
dators, Wilson  justly  remarks,  as  a  balance  against  the  damage 
they  commit,  the  service  they  perform  in  the  spring  season,  by 
the  immense  number  of  insects  and  their  larvae  which  they 
destroy,  as  their  principal  food,  and  which  are  of  kinds  most 
injurious  to  the  husbandman.  Indeed,  Kalm  remarked  that 
after  a  great  destruction  made  among  these  and  the  common 
Blackbirds  for  the  legal  reward  of  3  pence  a  dozen,  the 
Northern  States,  in  1 749,  experienced  a  complete  loss  of  the 
grass  and  grain  crops,  which  were  now  devoured  by  insects. 

Like  the  Troopial  {Oriolus  icterus,  Lath.),  the  Redwing 
shows  attachment  and  docility  in  confinement,  becoming,  like 

1  My  friend  Mr.  S.  Green,  of  Boston,  assures  me  that  he  has  seen  these  bird* 
near  Newton,  in  a  cedar-swamp,  in  January. 


RED-WINGED  BLACKBIRD. 


lOI 


the  Starling,  familiar  with  those  who  feed  him,  and  repaying 
the  attention  he  receives,  by  singing  his  monotonous  ditty 
pretty  freely,  consisting,  as  we  have  already  remarked,  of  vari- 
ous odd,  grating,  shrill,  guttural,  and  sometimes  warbling  tones, 
which  become  at  length  somewhat  agreeable  to  the  ear;  and 
instances  are  said  to  have  occurred  of  their  acquiring  the  power 
of  articulating  several  words  pretty  distinctly. 

The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  but  little  esteemed  except  when 
young,  being  dark  and  tough  like  that  of  the  Starling ;  yet  in 
some  of  the  markets  of  the  United  States  they  are  at  times 
exposed  for  sale. 

The  Red-wing  is  a  common  summer  visitor  to  the  Eastern  States 
and  Canada,  breeding  as  far  north  as  latitude  50°.  In  the  West  it 
ranges  through  the  Saskatchewan  valley  to  Great  Slave  Lake.  It 
winters  south  to  Mexico ;  but  a  few  individuals  have  been  known  to 
brave  a  New  England  winter.  During  the  winter  of  1889-90,  a 
male  was  seen  about  the  Fresh  Pond  marshes  by  several  members 
of  the  Nuttall  Club  of  Cambridge. 


Note.  —  The  Bahaman  Red-wing  (A.  phcemcus  bryanii),  a 
smaller,  darker  race,  is  found  on  the  Bahama  Islands  and  in  south- 
ern Florida. 


III 


11 


^''W^l^'»^^^^\-- 


YELLOW-HEADED    BLACKBIRD. 

Xanthocephalus  xanthocephalus. 

Char.  Male :  head,  neck,  and  breast  yellow ;  large  patch  on  wing 
white ;  other  parts  black.  Female  and  young  :  general  color  blackish 
brown ;  wings  without  the  white  spot ;  throat  and  breast  dull  yellow. 
Length  g  to  ii  inches. 

JVest.  —  Of  dried  grass,  Crmly  woven  and  fastened  to  twigs  of  a  bush  or 
stalks  of  rushes,  in  a  marsh  or  swampy  meadow. 

i^^^'j.  —  2-6 ;  grayish  white,  sometimes  with  a  green  tint,  irregularly 
marked  with  brown;  1.05  X  0.70. 

The  Yellow-headed  Troopial,  though  long  known  as  an 
inhabitant  of  South  America,  was  only  recently  added  to  the 
fauna  of  the  United  States  by  Major  Long's  expedition.  It 
was  seen  in  great  numbers  near  the  banks  of  the  River  Platte, 
around  the  villages  of  the  Pawnees,  about  the  middle  of  May ; 
and  the  different  sexes  were  sometimes  observed  associated  in 
separate  flocks,  as  the  breeding  season  had  not  yet  probably 
commenced.  The  range  of  this  fine  species  is,  apparently, 
from  Cayenne,  in  tropical  America,  to  the  banks  of  the  River 
Missouri,  where  Mr.  Townsend  and  myself  observed  examples 
not  far  from  the  settled  line  of  Missouri  State.  It  has  been 
seen  by  Dr.  Richardson,  in  summer,  as  far  as  the  58th  par- 
allel.    Its  visits  in  the  United  States  are  yet  wholly  confined  to 


YELLOW-HEADED  BLACKBIRD. 


103 


the  west  side  of  the  Mississippi,  beyond  which,  not  even  a 
straggler  has  been  seen.  These  birds  assemble  in  flocks,  and 
in  all  their  movements,  aerial  evolutions,  and  predatory  char- 
acter, appear  as  the  counterpart  of  their  Red-winged  relatives. 
They  are  also  seen  to  frequent  the  ground  in  search  of  food, 
in  the  manner  of  the  Cow-Bunting,  or  Troopial.  In  the 
spring  season  they  wage  war  upon  the  insect  tribes  and  their 
larvae,  like  the  Red-wings,  but  in  autumn  they  principally 
depend  on  the  seeds  of  vegetables.  At  Demerara,  Waterton 
observed  them  in  flocks,  and,  as  might  have  been  suspected 
from  their  habits,  they  were  very  greedy  after  Indian  com. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  in  our  western  tour  across  the  continent, 
around  the  Kansa  Indian  Agency,  we  now  saw  abundance  of 
the  Yellow-headed  Troopial,  associated  with  the  Cowbird. 
They  kept  wholly  on  the  ground  in  companies,  the  males,  at 
this  time,  by  themselves.  In  loose  soil  they  dig  into  the  earth 
with  their  bills  in  quest  of  insects  and  larvae,  are  very  active, 
straddle  about  with  a  quaint  gait,  and  now  and  then,  in  the 
manner  of  the  Cowbird,  whistle  out  with  great  effort  a  chuck- 
ling note  sounding  like  ko-kukkle-^dity  often  varying  into  a 
straining  squeak,  as  if  using  their  utmost  endeavor  to  make 
some  kind  of  noise  in  token  of  sociability.  Their  music  is, 
however,  even  inferior  to  the  harsh  note  of  tht:  Cowbird. 
In  the  month  of  June,  by  the  edge  of  a  grass)  marsh,  in  the 
open  plain  of  the  Platte,  several  hundred  miles  inland,  Mr. 
Townsend  found  the  nest  of  this  species  built  under  a  tussock 
formed  of  fine  grasses  and  canopied  over  like  that  of  the 
Sturnella,  or  Meadow  Lark. 

While  essentially  a  bird  of  the  prairie,  this  species  occurs  reg- 
ularly and  in  abundance  in  Wisconsin  and  Illinois.  It  has  been 
observed  occasionally  in  southern  Ontario,  and  examples  have  been 
taken  at  Point  des  Monts,  on  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  in 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  South  Carolina,  and  Florida. 


104 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


! 


COWBIRD. 

cow    BLACKBIRD. 
MOLOTHRUS   ATER. 

Char.  Male;  head  and  neck  dull  brown;  other  parts  glossy  black. 
Female  and  young  •.  brownish  gray,  paler  below,  with  dark  streaks. 
Length  7  to  8  inches. 

Nesi.  Does  not  build  any,  but  lays  its  eggs  in  nests  of  other  species, 
usu.iily  if  smaller  birds,  such  as  the  Yellow  Warbler,  Chipping  Sparrow, 
or  one  of  the  Vireos. 

Ef;;^:. .'  (number  unknown,  probably  4)  ;  dull  white,  so.netimes  with 

green  or  buff  tint,  irregularly  marked  with  various  shades  of  brown ; 
o  85  X  0.65. 

The  Cow-pen  Bird,  perpetually  gregarious  and  flitting,  is 
observed  to  enter  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  in  the  latter 
end  of  March  or  the  beginning  of  April.  They  make  their  mi- 
gration now  chiefly  under  cover  of  the  night,  or  early  dawn ; 
and  as  the  season  becomes  milder  they  pass  on  to  Canada,  and 
perhaps  follow  the  Warblers  and  other  small  birds  into  the 
farthest  regions  of  the  north,  for  they  are  seen  no  more  after 
the  middle  of  June  until  the  return  of  autumn,  when,  with  the 
colds  of  October,  they  again  reappear  in  numerous  and  aug- 
mented flocks,  usually  associated  with  their  kindred  Red-wings, 
to  whom  they  bear  a  sensible  likeness,  as  well  as  a  similarity  in 
notes  and  manners.  They  pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts 
of  America  as  well  as  in  the  Southern  States,  where  I  have 
observed  them  in  the  ploughed  fields,  gleaning  along  with  the 
Red-wings  and  the  common  Blackbirds.  They  are  also  very 
familiar  around  the  cattle,  picking  up  insects  which  they 
happen  to  disturb,  or  that  exist  in  their  ordure.  When  on  the 
ground,  they  scratch  up  the  soil  and  appear  very  intent  after 
their  food.  Sometimes  even,  infringing  on  the  rights  of  the 
Plover,  individuals,  in  the  winter,  frequent  the  margins  of 
ponds  in  quest  of  aquatic  insects  and  small  shell-fish  ;  and  they 
may  be  seen  industriously  occupied  in  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  the  water-plants  to  which  they  adhere.     They  also  frequent 


11 


COWBIRD. 


105 


occasionally  the  rice  and  corn  fields,  as  well  as  their  more 
notorious  associates,  but  are  more  inclined  to  native  food  and 
insects  at  all  times,  so  that  they  are  more  independent  and 
less  injurious  to  the  farmer.  As  they  exist  in  Mexico  and 
California,  it  is  probable  that  they  are  also  bred  in  the  higher 
table-lands,  as  well  as  in  the  regions  of  the  north.  In  Loui- 
siana, however,  according  to  Audubon,  they  are  rare  visitors 
at  any  season,  seeming  more  inclined  to  follow  their  route 
through  the  maritime  districts.  Over  these  countries,  high  in 
the  air,  in  the  month  of  October,  they  are  seen  by  day  winging 
their  way  to  the  remoter  regions  of  the  south. 

We  have  observed  that  the  Red-wings  separate  in  parties, 
and  pass  a  considerable  part  of  the  summer  in  the  necessary 
duties  of  incubation.  But  the  Cow-pen  Birds  release  them- 
selves from  all  hindrance  to  their  wanderings.  The  volatile 
disposition  and  instinct  which  prompt  birds  to  migrate,  as  the 
seasons  change  and  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  have  only  a 
periodical  influence ;  and  for  a  while  they  remain  domestic, 
passing  a  portion  of  their  time  in  the  cares  and  enjoyments  of 
the  conjugal  state.  But  with  our  bird,  like  the  European 
Cuckoo,  this  season  never  arrives ;  the  flocks  live  together 
without  ever  pairing.  A  general  concubinage  prevails  among 
them,  scarcely  exciting  any  jealousy,  and  unaccompanied  by  any 
durable  affection.  From  the  commencement  of  their  race  they 
have  been  bred  as  foundlings  in  the  nests  of  other  birds,  and 
fed  by  foster-parents  under  the  perpetual  influence  of  delusion 
and  deception,  and  by  the  sacrifice  of  the  concurrent  progeny 
of  the  nursing  birds.  Amongst  all  the  feathered  tribes  hitherto 
known,  this  and  the  European  Cuckoo,  with  a  few  other  species 
indigenous  to  the  old  continent,  are  the  only  kinds  who  never 
make  a  nest  or  hatch  their  young.  That  this  character  is  not 
a  vice  of  habit,  but  a  perpetual  instinct  of  nature,  appears  from 
various  circumstances,  and  from  none  more  evidently  than  from 
this,  that  the  eggs  of  the  Cow  Troopial  are  earlier  hatched  than 
those  of  the  foster- parent,  —  a  singular  and  critical  provision,  on 
which  perhaps  the  existence  of  the  species  depends  ;  for  did 
the  natural  brood  of  the  deceived  parent  come  first  into  exis- 


io6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


tence,  the  strange  egg  on  which  they  sat  would  generally  be 
destroyed. 

When  the  female  is  disposed  to  lay,  she  appears  restless  and 
dejected,  and  separates  from  the  unregarding  flock.  Stealing 
through  the  woods  and  thickets,  she  pries  into  the  bushes  and 
brambles  for  the  nest  that  suits  her,  into  which  she  darts  in  the 
absence  of  its  owner,  and  in  a  few  minutes  is  seen  to  rise  on  the 
wing,  cheerful,  and  relieved  from  the  anxiety  that  oppressed  her, 
and  proceeds  back  to  the  flock  she  had  so  reluctantly  forsaken. 
If  the  egg  be  deposited  in  the  nest  alone,  it  is  uniformly 
forsaken ;  but  if  the  nursing  parent  have  any  of  her  own, 
she  immediately  begins  to  sit.  The  Red-eyed  Flycatcher,  in 
whose  beautiful  basket-like  nests  I  have  observed  these  eggs, 
proves  a  very  affectionate  and  assiduous  nurse  to  the  uncouth 
foundling.  In  one  of  these  I  found  an  egg  of  each  bird,  and 
thf,  hen  already  sitting.  I  took  her  own  egg  and  left  the 
strange  one ;  she  soon  returned,  and  as  if  sensible  of  what 
had  happened,  looked  with  steadfast  attention,  and  shifted  the 
egg  about,  then  sat  upon  it,  but  soon  moved  off",  again  renewed 
her  observation,  and  it  was  a  considerable  time  before  she 
seemed  willing  to  take  her  seat ;  but  at  length  I  left  her  on 
the  nest.  Two  or  three  days  after,  I  found  that  she  had  relin- 
quished her  attention  to  the  strange  egg  and  forsaken  the 
nest.  Another  of  these  birds,  however,  forsook  the  nest  on 
taking  out  the  Cowbird's  egg,  although  she  had  still  two  of  her 
own  left.  The  only  example,  perhaps,  to  the  contrary  of  de- 
serting the  nest  when  solely  occupied  by  the  stray  egg,  is  in 
the  Bluebird,  who,  attached  strongly  to  the  breeding-places  in 
which  it  often  continues  for  several  years,  has  been  known  to 
lay,  though  with  apparent  reluctance,  after  the  deposition  of 
the  Cowbird's  egg.  My  friend  Mr.  C.  Pickering  found  two 
nests  of  the  Summer-yellow  Bird,  in  which  had  been  deposited 
an  egg  of  the  Cowbird  previously  to  any  of  their  own ;  and 
unable  to  eject  it,  they  had  buried  it  in  the  bottom  of  the  nest 
and  built  over  it  an  additional  story  !  I  also  saw,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1830,  a  similar  circumstance  with  the  same  bird,  in 
which  the  Cowbird's  egg,  though  incarcerated,  was  still  visible 


COWBIRD. 


107 


on  the  upper  edge,  but  could  never  have  been  hatched.  At 
times  I  think  it  probable  that  they  lay  in  the  nests  of  larger 
birds,  who  throw  out  the  egg,  or  that  they  drop  their  eggs  on 
the  ground  without  obtaining  a  deposit,  as  I  have  found  an  egg 
of  this  kind  thus  exposed  and  broken.  On  placing  an  t*,jg  of 
this  bird  in  the  Catbird's  nest  it  was  almost  instantly  ejected ; 
and  this  would  probably  be  the  usual  fate  of  the  strange  egg  if 
the  diminutive  nurses,  thus  wisely  chosen,  were  capable  of 
removing  it. 

The  most  usual  nurse  of  this  bird  appears  to  be  the  Red- 
eyed  Vireo,  who  commences  sitting  as  soon  as  the  Cowbird's 
-  egg  is  deposited.  On  these  occasions  I  have  known  the  Vireo 
to  begin  her  incubation  with  only  an  egg  of  each  kind,  and  in 
other  nests  I  have  observed  as  many  as  3  of  her  own,  with 
that  of  the  intruder.  From  the  largeness  of  the  strange  egg, 
probably  the  nest  immediately  feels  filled,  so  as  to  induce  the 
nurse  directly  to  sit.  This  larger  egg,  brought  nearer  to  the 
body  than  her  own,  is  consequently  better  warmed  and  sooner 
hatched ;  and  the  young  of  the  (^lowbird,  I  believe,  appears 
about  the  12th  or  13th  day  of  sitting.  The  foundling  is  very 
faithfully  nursed  by  the  affectionate  Vireo,  along  with  her  own 
brood,  who  make  their  appearance  about  a  day  later  than  the 
Troopial.  From  the  great  size  of  the  parasite,  the  legitimate 
young  are  soon  stifled,  and,  when  dead,  are  conveyed,  as  usual, 
by  the  duped  parent  to  a  distance  before  being  dropped ;  but 
they  are  never  found  immediately  beneath  the  nest,  as  would 
invariably  happen  if  they  were  ejected  by  the  young  Troopial. 
In  the  summer  of  1839  I  actually  saw  a  Chipping  Sparrow  car- 
ry!ijg  out  to  a  distance  one  of  its  dead  young  thus  stifled ;  and 
a  second  nest  of  the  same  species  in  which  3  of  its  own  brood 
were  hatched  soon  after  the  Cow  Troopial :  these  survived  2  or 
3  days,  and  as  they  perished  were  carried  away  by  the  parent 
bird.  As  far  as  I  have  had  opportunity  of  observing,  the 
foundling  shows  no  hostility  to  the  natural  brood  of  his  nurses, 
but  he  nearly  absorbs  their  whole  attention,  and  early  displays 
his  characteristic  cunning  and  self-possession.  When  fully 
fledged,  they  quickly   desert   their   foster- parent,   and   skulk 


!!■ 


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io8 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


i 


about  in  the  woods  until,  at  length,  they  instinctively  join  com- 
pany with  those  oi  the  same  feather,  and  now  becoming  more 
bold,  are  seen  in  parties  of  5  or  6,  in  the  fields  and  lanes, 
gleaning  their  accustomed  subsistence.  They  still,  however, 
appear  shy  and  watchful,  and  seem  *oo  selfish  to  study  any- 
thing more  than  their  own  security  and  advantage. 

The  song  of  the  Cowbird  is  guttural  and  unmusical,  uttered 
with  an  air  of  affectation,  and  accompanied  by  a  bristling  of 
the  feathers  and  a  swelling  of  the  body  in  the  manner  of  the 
Turkey.  These  are  also  all  the  notes  of  the  species  in  the 
season  of  their  attachment ;  so  that  their  musical  talent  rater* 
lower  than  that  of  any  other  bird  perhaps  in  the  genus.  Some- 
times the  tones  of  the  male  resemble  the  liquid  clinking  of  the 
Bobolink  and  Red-winged  Blackbird.  Sitting  on  the  summit 
of  a  lofty  branch,  he  amuses  himself  perhaps  for  an  hour  with 
an  occasional  'k/uck  '/see,  the  latter  syllable  uttered  in  a  drawl- 
ing hiss  like  that  of  the  Red-wing.  Accompanied  by  his  mates, 
he  also  endeavors  to  amuse  them  by  his  complaisant  chatter ; 
and  watching  attentively  for  their  safety,  they  flit  together  at 
the  instant  he  utters  the  loud  tone  of  alarm ;  and  they  are 
always  shy  and  suspicious  of  the  designs  of  every  observer. 
On  a  fine  spring  morning,  however,  perched  towards  the  sum- 
mit of  some  tree  in  the  forest  where  they  seek  rest  after  their 
twilight  wanderings,  small  and  select  parties  may  be  seen  grate- 
fully basking  in  the  mild  beams  of  the  sunshine.  The  male  on 
such  occasions  seems  as  proud  of  his  uncouth  jargon,  and  as 
eager  to  please  his  favorite  companions,  as  the  tuneful  Night- 
ingale with  his  pathetic  and  varied  lay. 

The  Cowbird  is  a  commor!  summer  resident  of  New  England, 
though  of  rather  local  distribution.  Dr.  Wheaton  reported  it  as 
abundant  in  Ohio  during  the  summer  months,  and  Mr.  Mcllwraith 
made  a  similar  report  for  Ontario.  It  is  rather  uncommon  in  the 
Maritime  Provinces,  but  ranges  as  far  northward  as  the  50th  par- 
allel. In  January,  1883,  two  specimens  were  taken  near  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  by  Mr.  VVilliam  Brewster  and  Mr.  Henry  M.  Spellman. 


BOBOLINK. 

RICE   BIRD.     SKUNK  BLACKBIRD.     MEADOW-WINK. 
DOLICHONYX    ORYZIVORUS. 

Char.  Male  in  summer  :  black ;  back  of  head  and  hind-neck  buff ; 
scapulars,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts  ashy  white.  Male  in  winter, 
female,  and  young :  above,  yellowish  brown,  beneath  paler,  more  buffy ; 
light  stripe  on  crown.     Length  6}4  to  7^  inches. 

jVcsI.     In  a  meadow  ;  made  of  dried  grass. 

J^X"'^-  4~6;  white  with  green  or  buff  tint,  irregularly  marked  with 
lilac  and  brown;  0.85  X  o-6o. 

The  whole  continent  of  America,  from  Labrador  to  Mexico, 
and  the  Great  Antilles,  are  the  occasional  residence  of  this  truly 
migratory  species.  About  the  middle  of  March  or  beginning 
of  April  the  cheerful  Bobolink  makes  his  appearance  in  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  United  States,  becoming  gradually 
arrayed  in  his  nuptial  livery,  and  accompanied  by  troops  of  his 
companions,  who  often  precede  the  arrival  of  their  more  tardy 


no 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


1 


mates.  According  to  Richardson  it  is  the  beginning  of  June 
rhen  they  arrive  at  their  farthest  boreal  station  in  the  54th 
degree.  VVe  observed  them  in  the  great  western  plains  to  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  not  in  Oregon.  Their  win- 
tering resort  appears  to  be  rather  the  West  Indies  than  the 
tropical  continent,  as  their  migrations  are  observed  to  take 
place  generally  to  the  east  of  Louisiana,  where  their  visits  are 
rare  and  irregular.  At  this  season  also  they  make  their  ap- 
proaches chiefly  by  night,  obeying,  as  it  were,  more  distinctly, 
the  mandates  of  an  overruling  instinct,  which  prompts  them  to 
seek  out  their  natal  regions ;  while  in  autumn,  their  progress, 
by  day  only,  is  alone  instigated  by  the  natural  quest  of  food. 
About  the  ist  of  May  the  meadows  of  Massachusetts  begin  to 
re-echo  their  lively  ditty.  At  this  season,  in  wet  places,  and 
by  newly  ploughed  fields,  they  destroy  many  insects  and  their 
larvae.  According  to  their  success  in  obtaining  food,  parties 
often  delay  their  final  northern  movement  as  late  as  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  so  that  they  appear  to  be  in  no  haste  to  arrive  at 
their  destination  at  any  exact  period.  The  principal  business 
of  their  lives,  however,  the  rearing  of  their  young,  does  not 
take  place  until  they  have  left  the  parallel  of  the  40th  degree. 
In  the  savannahs  of  Ohio  and  Michigan,  and  the  cool  grassy 
meadows  of  New  York,  Canada,  and  New  England,  they  fix 
their  abode,  and  obtain  a  sufficiency  of  food  throughout  the 
summer  without  molesting  the  harvest  of  the  farmer,  until  the 
ripening  of  the  la\:est  crops  of  oats  and  barley,  when,  in  their 
autumnal  and  changed  dress,  hardly  now  known  as  the  same 
species,  they  sometimes  show  their  taste  for  plunder,  and  flock 
together  like  the  greedy  and  predatory  Blackbirds.  Although 
they  devour  various  kinds  of  insects  and  worms  on  their  first 
arrival,  I  have  found  that  their  frequent  visits  among  the  grassy 
meadows  were  often  also  for  the  seeds  they  contain ;  and  they 
are  particularly  fond  of  those  of  the  dock  and  dandelion,  the 
latter  of  which  is  sweet  and  oily.  Later  in  the  season,  and  pre- 
viously to  leaving  their  native  regions,  they  feed  principally  on 
various  kinds  of  grass-seeds,  particularly  those  of  the  Panicums, 
which  are  aUied  to  millet.  They  also  devour  crickets  and  grass- 
hoppers, as  well  as  beetles  and  spiders.    Their  nest  is  fixed  on 


!»'!f 


iiODOLINK. 


I  II 


•jllfii 


the  ground  in  a  slight  depression,  usually  in  a  field  of  meadow 
grass,  either  in  a  dry  or  moist  situation,  and  consists  merely  of 
a  loose  bedding  of  withered  grass,  so  inartificial  as  scarcely  to 
be  distinguishable  from  the  rest  of  the  ground  around  it.  The 
eggs  are  5  or  6,  of  a  dull  white,  inclining  to  olive,  scattered  all 
over  wi  h  small  spots  and  touches  of  lilac  brown,  with  some 
irregular  blotches  of  dark  rufous  brown,  chiefly  disposed  to- 
wards the  larger  end. 

The  males,  arriving  a  little  earlier  than  the  other  sex,  now 
appear  very  vigorous,  lively,  and  familiar.  Many  quarrels 
occur  before  the  mating  is  settled  ;  and  the  females  seem  at  first 
very  coy  and  retiring.  Emulation  fires  the  Bobolink  at  this 
period,  and  rival  songsters  pour  out  their  incessant  strains  of 
enlivening  music  from  every  fence  and  orchard  tree,  'i'he 
quiet  females  keep  much  on  the  ground ;  but  as  soon  as  they 
appear,  they  are  pursued  by  the  ardent  candidates  for  their 
affection,  and  if  either  seems  to  be  favored,  the  rejected  suitor 
is  chased  off  the  ground,  as  soon  as  he  appears,  by  his  more 
fortunate  rival.  The  song  of  the  male  continues  with  little  in- 
terruption as  long  as  the  female  is  sitting,  and  his  chant,  at  all 
times  very  similar,  is  both  singular  and  pleasant.  Often,  like 
the  Skylark,  mounted,  and  hovering  on  the  wing,  at  a  small  height 
above  the  field,  as  he  passes  along  from  one  tree-top  or  weed 
to  another,  he  utters  such  a  jingling  medley  of  short,  variable 
notes,  so  confused,  rapid,  and  continuous,  that  it  appears 
almost  like  the  blending  song  of  several  different  birds.  Many 
of  these  tones  are  very  agreeable  ;  but  they  are  delivered  with 
such  rapidity  that  the  ear  can  scarcely  separate  them.  The 
general  effect,  however,  like  all  the  simple  efforts  of  Nature,  is 
good,  and  when  several  are  chanting  forth  in  the  same  meadow, 
the  concert  is  very  cheerful,  though  monotonous,  and  somewhat 
quaint.  Among  the  few  phrases  that  can  be  distinguished,  the 
liquid  sound  of  bob-o-lee  bob-o-link  bob-o-linkc,  is  very  distinct. 
To  give  an  idea  of  the  variable  extent  of  song,  and  even  an 
imitation,  in  some  measure,  of  the  chromatic  period  and  air  of 
this  familiar  and  rather  favorite  resident,  the  boys  of  this  part 
of  New  England  make  him  spout,  among  others,  the  following 


112 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


i 


ludicrous  dunning  phrase,  as  he  rises  and  hovers  on  the  wing 
near  his  n)Z.\.t,'''Bdh-d-link,  'Bob-b-link,  'Tom  Denny 'Tom 
Denny.  —  '  Come  pay  me  the  tivo  and  six  pence  you  've  owed 
more  than  a  year  and  a  half  ago!  —  'tshe  'tshe  'tshe,  'tsh  'tsh 
'tshe,'"  modestly  diving  at  the  same  instant  down  into  the  grass 
as  if  to  avoid  altercation.  However  puerile  this  odd  phrase 
may  appear,  it  \z  quite  amusing  to  find  how  near  it  approaches 
to  the  time  and  expression  of  the  notes,  when  pronounced  in 
a  hurried  manner.  It  would  be  unwise  in  the  naturalist  to 
hold  in  contempt  anything,  however  trifling,  which  might  tend 
to  elucidate  the  simple  truth  of  nature  ;  I  therefore  give  the 
thing  as  I  find  it.  This  relish  for  song  and  merriment,  con- 
fined wholly  to  the  male,  diminishes  as  the  period  of  incubation 
advances ;  and  when  the  brood  begin  to  flutter  around  their 
parents  and  protectors,  the  song  bee  mes  less  frequent,  the 
cares  of  the  parents  more  urgent,  and  any  approach  to  the 
secret  recess  of  their  helpless  family  is  deplored  with  urgent 
and  incessant  cries  as  they  hover  fearfully  around  the  inten- 
tional or  accidental  intruder.  They  appear  sometimes  inclined 
to  have  a  second  brood,  for  which  preparation  is  made  while 
they  are  yet  engaged  in  rearing  the  first ;  but  the  male  gen- 
erally loses  his  musical  talent  about  the  end  of  the  first  week 
in  July,  from  which  time  his  nuptial  or  pied  dress  begins 
gradually  to  be  laid  aside  for  the  humble  garb  of  the  female. 
The  whole,  both  young  and  old,  then  appear  nearly  in  the 
same  songless  livery,  uttering  only  a  chink  of  alarm  when  sur- 
l^rised  in  feeding  on  tht  grass  seeds,  or  the  crops  of  grain 
which  still  remain  abroad.  When  the  voice  of  the  Bobolink 
begins  to  fail,  with  the  progress  of  the  exhausting  moult,  he  flits 
over  the  fields  in  a  restless  manner,  and  merely  utters  a  broken 
'/>dl>'iee,  '/>df>'lee,  or  witli  his  songless  mate,  at  length,  a  'weef 
'weet,  b'lret  b'leet^  and  a  noisy  and  disagreeable  cackling 
chirp.  At  the  early  dawn  of  day,  while  the  tuneful  talent  of 
the  species  is  yet  unabated,  the  effect  of  their  awakening  and 
faltering  voices  from  a  wide  expanse  of  meadows,  is  singular 
and  grand.  The  sounds  mingle  like  the  noise  of  a  distant 
torrent,  which  alternately  subsides  and  rises  on  the  breeze  as 


BOBOLINK. 


113 


the  performers  awake  or  relapse  into  rest ;  it  finally  becomes 
more  distinct  and  tumultuovis,  till  with  the  opening  day  it  as- 
sumes the  intelligible  character  of  their  ordinary  song.  The 
young  males,  towards  the  close  of  July,  having  nearly  acquired 
their  perfect  character,  utter  also  in  the  morning,  from  the 
trees  which  border  their  favorite  marshy  meadows,  a  very 
agreeable  and  continuous  low  warble,  more  like  that  of  the 
Yellow  Bird  than  the  usual  song  of  the  species ;  in  fact,  they 
appear  now  in  every  respect  as  Finches,  and  only  become 
jingling  musicians  when  robed  in  their  pied  dress  as  Icteri. 

About  the  middle  of  August,  in  congregating  numbers,  di- 
vested already  of  all  selective  attachment,  vast  foraging  parlies 
enter  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  on  their  way  to  the  South. 
Here,  along  the  shores  of  the  large  rivers,  lined  with  floating 
fields  of  the  wild  rice,  they  find  an  abundant  means  of  sub- 
sistence during  their  short  stay ;  and  as  their  flesh,  now  fat,  is 
little  inferior  to  that  of  the  P^uropean  Ort(jlan,  the  Reed  or  Rice 
Birds,  as  they  are  then  called  in  their  Sparrow- dress,  form  a 
favorite  sport  for  gunners  of  all  descriptions,  who  turn  out  on 
the  occasion  and  commit  prodigious  havoc  among  the  almost 
silent  and  greedy  roosting  throng.  The  markets  are  then  filled 
with  this  delicious  game,  and  the  pursuit,  both  for  success  and 
amusement,  along  the  picturescjue  and  reedy  shores  of  the  Del- 
aware and  other  rivers  is  second  to  none  but  that  of  Rail- 
shooting.  As  soon  as  the  cool  nights  of  October  commence, 
and  as  the  wild  rice  crops  begin  to  fail,  the  Reed  Birds 
take  their  departure  from  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey,  and  in 
their  farther  progress  through  the  Southern  States  they  swarm 
in  the  rice  fields ;  and  before  the  crop  is  gathered  they  have 
already  made  their  appearance  in  the  islands  of  Cuba  and 
Jamaica,  where  they  also  feed  on  the  seeds  of  the  (luinea 
grass,  become  so  fat  as  to  deserve  the  name  of  "  Butter-birds," 
and  are  in  high  esteem  for  the  table. 

Near  the  Atlantic  coast  the  Bobolink  is  not  common  north  of 
the  45th  parallel ;  but  in  the  West  it  ranges  to  much  higher  latitudes. 
A  few  examples  have  been  observed  on  the  New  Brunswick  shore 
of  the  (ailf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
vol..  I.  —  8 


I' 


! 


114 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


BOAT-TAILED   CRACKLE. 

JACKDAW. 
QUISCALUS   MAJOR. 

Char.  Extremely  long,  wedge-shaped  tail,  less  conspicuous  in  female. 
Male :  black,  with  metallic  tints  of  green,  blue,  and  purple.  Length  15  to 
17^  inches.  Female  :  above,  brown ;  beneath, grayish  brown,  changing  to 
reddish  and  buffy  on  breast  and  throat.     Length,  ii>^  to  13  inches. 

Nest.  A  bulky  structure  of  dried  grass  and  strips  of  bark,  cemented 
with  mud  and  lined  with  fine  grass ;  placed  in  a  tree  in  swamp  or  near  a 
marsh,  sometimes  fastened  to  rushes. 

Eggs.  3-5;  grayish  drab  with  tints  of  green  or  blue,  marked  with 
black  and  brown  blotches  and  lines;  1.25  X  0.90. 

This  large  and  Crow-like  species,  sometimes  called  the  Jack- 
daw, inhabits  the  southern  maritime  parts  of  the  Union  only, 
particularly  the  States  of  Georgia  and  Florida,  where  they  are 
seen  as  early  as  the  close  of  January  or  beginning  of  February, 
but  do  not  begin  to  pair  before  March,  previously  to  which 
season  the  sexes  are  seen  in  separate  flocks.  But  about  the 
latter  end  of  November  they  quit  even  the  mild  climate  of 
Florida,  generally,  and  seek  winter-quarters  probably  in  the 
West  Indies,  where  they  are  known  to  be  numerous,  as  well  as 
in  Mexico,  Louisiana,  and  Texas  ;  but  they  do  not  ever  extend 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  the  Middle  States.  Previ- 
ous to  their  departure,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  are  seen 
to  assemble  in  large  flocks,  and  every  morning  flights  of  them, 
at  a  great  height,  are  seen  moving  away  to  the  south. 

Like  most  gregarious  birds,  they  are  of  a  very  sociable 
disposition,  and  are  frequently  observed  to  mingle  with  the 
common  Crow  Blackbirds.  They  assemble  in  great  numbers 
among  the  sea  islands,  and  neighboring  marshes  on  the  main- 
land, where  they  feed  at  low  water  on  the  oyster-beds  and  sand- 
flats.  Like  Crows,  they  are  omnivorous,  their  food  consisting 
of  insects,  small  shell-fish,  corn,  and  small  grain,  so  that  by 
turns  they  may  be  viewed  as  the  friend  or  plunderer  of  the 
planter. 


i 


PURPLE  CRACKLE. 


115 


The  note  of  this  species  is  louder  than  that  of  the  common 
kind,  according  to  Audubon  resembling  a  loud,  shrill  whistle, 
often  accompanied  by  a  cry  like  crick  crick  cree,  and  in  the 
breeding- season  changing  almost  into  a  warble.  They  are  only 
heard  to  sing  in  the  spring,  and  their  concert,  though  inclining 
to  sadness,  is  not  altogether  disagreeable.  Their  nests  are 
built  in  company,  on  reeds  and  bushes,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  salt-marshes  and  ponds.  They  begin  to  lay  about  the 
beginning  of  April ;  soon  after  which  the  males  leave  their 
mates,  not  only  with  the  care  of  incubation,  but  with  the  rear- 
ing of  the  young,  moving  about  in  separate  flocks  like  the 
Cowbirds,  without  taking  any  interest  in  the  fate  of  their 
progeny. 

This  species  is  rarely  found  north  of  Virginia.  Several  instances 
of  its  occurrence  in  New  England  have  been  reported ;  but  the 
correctness  of  these  reports  has  been  challenged,  and  Mr.  Allen 
omitted  the  species  from  his  list  of  Massachusetts  birds  issued  in 
i«86. 


PURPLE   CRACKLE. 

CROW   BLACKBIRD. 
QUISCALUS    QUISCULA. 

Char.  Black,  with  rich  metallic  tints  of  steel  blue  and  purple,  the 
female  somewhat  duller.     Length,  11  to  13 j4  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  branch  of  a  tree  or  in  a  hollow  stub ;  large  and  roughly 
made  of  coarse  grass  and  twigs,  and  lined  with  finer  grass,  sometimes 
cemented  with  mud. 

Et^^s.  4-6 ;  extremely  variable  in  shape,  color,  and  size  ;  ground  color 
greenish  white  to  reddish  brown,  with  irregular  markings  of  dark  brown ; 
1.25  X  0.90. 

This  very  common  bird  is  an  occasional  or  constant  resident 
in  every  part  of  America,  from  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  northern 
interior  to  the  Great  Antilles,  within  the  tropic.  In  most  parts 
of  this  wide  region  they  also  breed,  at  least  from  Nova  Scotia  to 
Louisiana,  and  probably  farther  south.  Into  the  States  north 
of  Virginia  they  begin  to  migrate  from  the  beginning  of  March 


1:1 


i.^   1 1 


M 


I 


ii6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


to  May,  leaving  those  countries  again  in  numerous  troops  about 
the  middle  of  November.  Thus  assembled  from  the  North  and 
West  in  increasing  numbers,  they  wholly  overrun,  at  times,  the 
warmer  maritime  regions,  where  they  assemble  to  pass  the 
winter  in  the  company  of  their  well-known  cousins  the  Red- 
winged  Trooi)ials  or  Blackbirds;  for  both,  impelled  by  the 
same  predatory  appetite,  and  love  of  comfortable  winter 
quarters,  are  often  thus  accidentally  associated  in  the  plun- 
dering and  gleaning  of  the  plantations.  The  amazing 
numbers  in  which  the  present  species  associate  are  almost 
incredible.  Wilson  relates  that  on  the  20th  of  January,  a  fcw 
miles  from  the  banks  of  the  Roanoke  in  Virginia,  he  met  with 
one  of  those  prodigious  armies  of  Blackbirds,  which,  as  he  ap- 
proached, rose  from  the  surrounding  fields  with  a  noise  like 
thunder,  and  descending  on  the  stretch  of  road  before  him, 
covered  it  and  the  fences  completely  with  black ;  rising  again, 
after  a  few  evolutions,  they  descended  on  the  skirt  of  a  leafless 
wood,  so  thick  as  to  give  the  whole  forest,  for  a  considerable 
extent,  the  appearance  of  being  shrouded  in  mourning,  the 
numbers  amounting  probably  to  many  hundreds  of  thousands. 
Their  notes  and  screams  resembled  the  distant  sound  of  a 
mighty  cataract,  but  strangely  attuned  into  a  musical  cadence, 
which  rose  and  fell  with  the  fluctuation  of  the  breeze,  like  the 
magic  harp  of  /Eolus. 

Their  depredations  on  the  maize  crop  or  Indian  com  com- 
mence almost  with  the  planting.  The  infant  blades  no  sooner 
appear  than  they  are  hailed  by  the  greedy  Blackbird  as  th' 
signal  for  a  feast ;  and  without  hesitation,  they  descend  on  the 
fields,  and  regale  themselves  with  the  sweet  and  sprouted  seed, 
rejecting  and  scattering  the  blades  around  as  an  ev'dence  of 
their  mischief  and  audacity.  Again,  about  the  beginning  of 
August,  while  the  grain  is  in  the  milky  state,  their  attacks  are 
renewed  with  the  most  destnictive  effect,  as  they  now  assemble 
as  it  were  in  clouds,  and  pillage  the  fields  to  such  a  degree 
that  in  some  low  and  sheltered  situations,  in  the  vicinity  of 
rivers,  where  they  delight  to  roam,  one  fourth  of  the  crop  is 
devoured  by  these  vexatious  visitors.     The  gun,  also,  notwith- 


PURPLE  GRACKLE. 


117 


Standing  the  havoc  it  produces,  has  Httle  more  effect  than  tc 
chase  them  from  One  part  of  the  field  to  the  other.  In  the 
Southern  States,  in  winter,  they  hover  round  the  corn-cribs  in 
swarms,  and  boldly  peck  the  hard  grain  from  the  cob  through 
the  air  openings  of  the  magazine.  In  consequence  of  these 
reiterated  depredations,  they  are  detested  by  the  farmer  as 
a  pest  to  his  industry ;  though  on  their  arrival  their  food  for 
a  long  time  consists  wholly  of  those  insects  which  are  calculated 
to  do  the  most  essential  injury  to  the  crops.  They  at  this  season 
freciuent  swamps  and  meadows,  and  familiarly  following  the  fur- 
rows of  the  plough,  sweep  up  all  the  gnib- worms  and  other 
noxious  animals  as  soon  as  they  appear,  even  scratching  up  the 
loose  soil,  that  nothing  of  tuis  kind  may  escape  them.  Up  to  the 
time  of  harvest  I  have  uniformly,  on  dissection,  fouml  their  food 
to  consist  of  these  larvae,  caterjjillars,  moths,  and  beetles,  of 
which  they  devour  such  numbers  that  but  for  this  providtrntial 
economy  the  whole  crop  of  grain,  in  many  places,  would  prob- 
ably be  destroyed  by  the  time  it  began  to  germinate.  In 
winter  they  collect  the  mast  of  the  beech  and  (xik  for  food, 
and  may  be  seen  assembled  in  large  bodies  in  the  woods  for 
this  purpose.  In  the  spring  season  the  Blackbirds  roost  in  the 
cedars  and  pine-trees,  to  which  in  the  evening  they  retire  with 
friendly  and  mutual  chatter.  On  the  tallest  cf  these  trees,  as 
well  as  in  bushes,  they  generally  build  their  nests,  —  which  work, 
like  all  their  movements,  is  commonly  performed  in  society,  so 
that  10  or  15  of  them  are  often  seen  in  the  same  tree;  and 
sometimes  they  have  been  known  to  thrust  their  nests  into 
the  interstices  of  the  Fish  Hawk's  eyry,  as  if  for  safety  and 
protection.  Occasionally  they  breed  in  tall  poplars  near  to 
habitations,  and  if  not  molested,  continue  to  resort  to  the  same 
place  for  several  years  in  succession.  The  nest  is  composed 
of  mud,  mixed  with  stalks  and  knotty  roots  of  grass,  and  lined 
with  fine  dry  grass  and  horse-hair.  According  to  Audubon, 
the  same  'pecies  in  the  Southern  States  nests  in  the  hollows  of 
decayed  trees,  after  the  manner  of  the  Woodpecker,  lining  the 
cavity  with  grass  and  mud.  They  seldom  produce  more  than  a 
single  brood  in  the  season.    In  the  autumn,  and  at  the  a[  proach 


ii8 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


of  winter,  numerous  flocks,  after  foraging  through  the  day,  return 
from  considerable  distances  to  their  general  roosts  among  the 
reeds.  On  approaching  their  station,  each  detachment,  as  it 
arrives,  in  straggling  groups  like  crows,  sweeps  round  the  marsh 
in  waving  flight,  forming  circles ;  amidst  these  bodies,  the  note 
of  the  old  reconnoitring  leader  may  be  heard,  and  no  sooner 
has  he  fixed  upon  the  intended  spot  than  they  all  descend  and 
take  their  stations  in  an  instant.  At  this  time  they  are  also 
frequently  accompanied  by  the  P'erruginous  species,  with  which 
they  associate  in  a  friendly  manner. 

The  Blackbird  is  easily  tamed,  sings  in  confinement,  and 
may  be  taught  to  articulate  some  few  words  pretty  distinctly. 
Among  the  variety  of  its  natural  notes,  the  peculiarly  affected 
sibilation  of  the  Starling  is  heard  in  the  uwttitshee,  wotiitshee, 
and  whistle,  which  often  accompanies  this  note. 

In  Nuttall's  day  variety  making  had  not  come  in  fashion,  and 
the  systematists  were  content  to  treat  the  Crow  Hlackbirds  of  east- 
ern North  America  as  of  one  form.  Now  we  have  three  forms, 
with  three  "distinctive  scientific  appellations."  It  is  somewhat 
difficult  to  distinguish  these  forms,  except  in  extreme  phases  of 
plumage,  for  many  specimens  of  the  Northern  variety  have  the 
diagnostic  characters  of  the  Southern  birds.  The  present  race  is 
said  to  occur  only  on  "  the  Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States, 
north  to  Massachusetts  and  west  to  eastern  Tennessee." 

The  Bronze  Guackle  {Q.  quiscula  aneus)  lacks  the  purple 
metallic  tint  on  the  body,  that  being  replaced  by  a  tint  of  bronze ; 
the  purple  and  blue  tints  are  restricted  to  the  head  and  neck.  The 
wings  and  tail  are  purple.  This  form  is  abundant  throughout  the 
New  England  States  and  Canada,  and  ranges  north  to  Hudson's 
Bay  and  west  to  the  Great  IMains.  I  have  seen  nests  of  these 
birds  placed  on  the  beams  of  barns  in  New  Brunswick.  The 
farmers  along  the  St.  John  and  Kenebecasis  rivers  erect  barns  op 
the  marshy  islands  and  •'  intervales"  to  store  their  hay  until  it  can 
b  carried  to  the  mainland  on  the  ice;  and  these  barnrs,  being  un- 
used during  the  breeding  season,  offer  excellent  building  sites  for 
colonies  of  Crow  Blackbirds  and  Swallows.  The  nests  are  fastened 
to  the  beams  with  mud  in  much  the  same  method  as  that  adopted 
by  Robins. 

A  smaller  race  with  a  larijertail  is  restricted  to  southern  Florida. 
It  is  named  the  Florida  Gracki.e  {Q.  quiscula  at^lceus). 


RUSTY  BLACKBIRD. 


119 


RUSTY   BLACKBIRD. 

SCOLECOPHAGUS   CAROLINUS. 

Char.  Male  in  summer .  glossy  black,  generally  more  or  less  feathers 
edged  with  reddish  brown.  Male  in  winter:  the  brown  more  conspic- 
uous, the  lower  parts  marked  with  buffy.  Female  and  young  :  dull  ru.sty 
brown  above,  rusty  and  ashy  beneath.     Length  8X  to  9^  inches. 

N'est.  In  a  spruce-tree  or  alder ;  a  large  but  solid  structure  of  twigs 
and  vines,  sometimes  cemented  with  mud,  lined  with  grass  and  leaves. 

Ei^gs.  4-7  ;  grayish  green  to  pale  green,  thickly  blotched  with  light  and 
dark  brown  and  purple  ;  i  .00  X  0.76. 

This  species,  less  frequent  than  the  preceding,  is  often 
associated  with  it  or  with  the  Red-winged  Troopial  or  the 
Cowpen  Bird ;  and  according  to  the  season,  they  are  found 
throughout  America,  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Florida,  and  west- 
ward to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Early  in  April,  according  to 
Wilson,  they  pass  hastily  through  Pennsylvania,  on  their 
return  to  the  North  to  breed.  In  the  month  of  March  he 
observed  them  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  near  Kentucky  River, 
during  a  snow-storm.  They  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson's 
Bay  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  feed  much  in  the  manner 
of  the  common  Crow  Blackbird  on  insects  which  they  find  on 
or  near  the  ground.  Dr.  Richardson  saw  them  in  the  winter 
as  far  as  the  latitude  of  53°,  and  in  summer  they  range  to  the 
68th  parallel  or  to  the  extremity  of  the  wooded  region.  They 
sing  in  the  pairing  season,  but  become  nearly  silent  while 
rearing  their  young ;  though  when  their  brood  release  them 
from  care,  they  again  resume  their  lay,  and  may  occasionally  be 
heard  until  the  approach  of  winter.  Their  song  is  quite  as 
agreeable  and  musical  as  that  of  the  Starling,  and  greatly  sur- 
passes that  of  any  of  the  other  species.  I  have  heard  them 
singing  until  the  middle  of  October. 

They  are  said  to  build  in  trees  and  bushes  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  the  ground,  making  a  nest  similar  to  the  other 
species,  and  lay  five  eggs,  of  a  pale  blue  spotted  with  black. 
The  young  and  old,  now  assembling  in  large  troops,  retire  from 
the  northern  regions  in  September.     From  the  beginning  of 


If 


120 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


Oct(^bcr  to  the  middle  of  November,  they  are  seen  in  flocks 
thr(nigh  the  Eastern  States.  During  their  stay  in  this  vicinity 
they  assemble  towards  night  to  roost  in  or  round  the  reed- 
marshes  of  Fresh  Pond,  near  Cambridge.  Sometimes  they 
select  the  willows  by  the  water  for  their  lodging,  in  preference 
to  the  reeds,  which  they  give  up  to  their  companions  the 
Crow  Blackbirds.  Early  in  October  they  feed  chiefly  on 
grasshoppers  and  berries,  and  at  a  later  period  pay  a  transient 
visit  to  the  corn-fields.  They  pass  the  winter  in  the  Southern 
States,  rnd,  like  their  darker  relatives,  make  familiar  visits  to 
the  ban  <  ir  i  and  corn-cribs.  Wilson  remarks  that  they  are 
easily  dc  .  .  >iic  •  d,  and  in  a  few  days  become  quite  familiar, 
being  reco. .  'led  i'>  ^ny  quarters  while  supplied  with  plenty  of 
food. 

The  Rusty  Blackbird  breeds  from  about  the  4sth  parallel  to  the 
lower  fur  countries.  It  is  fairly  common  near  the  Atlantic,  but  is 
more  abundant  in  the  interior,  and  Mr.  Thompson  reports  it  com- 
monly abundant  in  Manitoba.  In  this  region  it  does  noi  always 
select  an  alder  swamp  for  a  nesting  site,  as  some  authors  have 
stated.  A  nest  discovered  by  my  friend  Banks  was  amid  the  upper 
branches  of  a  good  sized  spruce  on  a  dry  hillside  in  Mr.  William 
Jack's  park,  near  St.  John. 


NORTHERN   RAVEN. 

CORVUS   CORAX    PRINCIPALIS. 

Char.     Black  with  bluish  purple  gloss.    Length  22  to  26^  inches. 

Nat.  On  a  cliff  or  in  a  tree ;  made  of  sticks  carefully  and  compactly 
arranged,  lined  with  grass  or  wool,  —  repaired  year  after  year,  and  thus 
increased  to  considerable  bulk. 

Eg^i^s.  2-7  ;  pale  olive,  marked  with  olive-brown  blotches  and  streaks  ; 
2.00  X  1.40. 

The  sable  Raven  has  been  observed  and  described  from  the 
earliest  times,  and  is  a  resident  of  almost  every  country  in  the 
world ;  but  is  more  particularly  abundant  in  the  western  than 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  United  States,  where  it  extends  along 
the  Oregon  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.     This  ominous  bird 


NORTHERN    RAVEN. 


121 


has  been  generally  despised  and  feared  by  the  superstitious 
even  more  than  the  nocturnal  Owl,  th(  igh  he  prowls  abroad  in 
open  day.  He  may  be  considered  as  holding  a  relation  to  the 
birds  of  prey,  feeding  not  only  on  carrion,  but  occasionally 
seizing  on  weakly  lambs,  young  hares  or  rabbits,  and  seems 
indeed  to  give  a  preference  to  animal  food  ;  but  at  the  same 
time,  he  is  able  to  live  on  all  kinds  of  fruits  and  grain,  as  well 
as  insects,  earth-worms,  even  dead  fish,  and  in  addition  to  all, 
is  particularly  fond  of  eggs,  so  that  no  animal  seems  more  truly 
omnivorous  than  the  Raven. 

If  we  take  into  consideration  his  indiscriminating  voracity, 
sombre  livery,  discordant,  croaking  cry,  with  his  ignc^ble,  wild, 
and  iimereal  aspect,  we  need  not  be  surprised  that  in  times  of 
ignorance  and  error  he  should  have  been  so  generally  regarded 
as  an  object  of  disgust  and  fear.  He  stood  pre  minent  in  the 
list  of  sinister  birds,  or  those  whose  only  premoni"  in  was  the 
announcing  of  misfortunes  ;  and,  strange  to  tel  the.e  are  many 
people  yet  in  Europe,  even  in  this  enlightened  age,  who  trem- 
ble and  become  uneasy  at  the  sound  of  his  hai  .iless  croaking. 
According  to  Adair,  the  Southern  aborigi  *s  also  invoke  the 
Raven  for  those  who  are  sick,  mimicking  nis  voice  ;  and  the 
natives  of  the  Missouri,  assuming  black  as  their  emblem  of 
war,  decorate  themselves  on  those  occasions  with  the  plumes 
of  this  dark  bird.  But  all  the  knowledge  of  the  future,  or  in- 
terest in  destiny,  possessed  by  the  Raven,  like  that  of  other 
inhabitants  of  the  air,  is  bounded  by  an  instinctive  feeling  of 
the  changes  which  are  about  to  happen  in  the  atmosphere,  and 
which  he  has  the  faculty  of  announcing  by  certain  cries  and 
actions  produced  by  these  external  impressions.  In  the  south- 
ern provinces  of  Sweden,  as  Linnaeus  remarks,  when  the  sky  is 
serene  the  Raven  flies  very  high  and  utters  a  hollow  sound, 
like  the  word  clong,  which  is  heard  to  a  great  distance.  Some- 
times he  has  been  seen  in  the  midst  of  a  thunder-storm  with 
the  electric  fire  streaming  from  the  extremity  of  his  bill,  —  a 
natural  though  extraordinary  phenomenon,  sufficient  to  terrify 
the  superstitious  and  to  stamp  the  harmless  subject  of  it  with 
the  imaginary  traits  and  attributes  of  a  demon. 


1 
%  1 


w 


122 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


In  ancient  times,  when  divination  made  a  part  of  religion, 
the  Raven,  though  a  bad  prophet,  was  yet  a  very  interesting 
bird ;  for  the  passion  for  prying  into  future  events,  even  the 
most  dark  anti  sorrowful,  is  an  original  propensity  of  human 
nature.  Accordingly,  all  the  actions  of  this  sombre  bird,  all 
the  circumstances  of  its  flight,  and  all  the  different  intonations 
of  its  discordant  voice,  of  which  no  less  than  sixty- four  were 
remarked,  had  each  of  them  an  appropriate  signification  ;  and 
there  were  never  wanting  impostors  to  procure  this  pretended 
intelligence,  nor  people  simple  enough  to  credit  it.  Some 
even  went  so  far  as  to  impose  upon  themselves,  by  devouring 
the  heart  and  entrails  of  the  disgusting  Raven,  in  the  strange 
ho[)e  of  thus  appropriating  its  supposed  gift  of  prophecy. 

The  Raven  indeed  not  only  possesses  a  great  many  natural 
inflections  of  voice  corresponding  to  its  various  feelings,  but  it 
has  also  a  talent  for  imitating  the  cries  of  other  animals,  and 
even  mimicking  language.  According  to  Buffon,  colas  is  a 
word  which  he  pronounces  with  peculiar  facility.  Connecting 
circumstances  with  his  wants,  Scaliger  heard  one,  which  when 
hungry,  learnt  very  distinctly  to  call  upon  Conrad  the  cook. 
The  first  of  these  words  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  one  of 
the  ordinary  cries  of  this  species,  kowallah^  koiuai/ah.  Besides 
possessing  in  some  measure  the  faculty  of  imitating  human 
speech,  they  are  at  times  capable  of  manifesting  a  durable 
attachment  to  their  keeper,  and  become  familiar  about  the 
house. 

The  sense  of  smell,  or  rather  that  of  sight,  is  very  acute  in 
the  Raven,  so  that  he  discerns  the  carrion,  on  which  he  often 
feeds,  at  a  great  distance.  Thucydides  even  attributes  to  him 
the  sagacity  of  avoiding  to  feed  on  animals  which  had  died  of 
the  plague.  Pliny  relates  a  singular  piece  of  ingenuity  em- 
ployed by  this  bird  to  quench  his  thirst :  he  had  observed 
water  near  the  bottom  of  a  narrow-necked  vase,  to  obtain 
which,  he  is  said  to  have  thrown  in  pebbles,  one  at  a  time, 
until  the  pile  elevated  the  water  within  his  reach.  Nor  does 
this  trait,  singular  as  it  is,  appear  to  be  much  more  sagacious 
than  that  of  carrying  up  nuts  and  shell-fish  into  the  air,  and 


NORTHERN   RAVEN. 


123 


on, 
ing 
the 


dropping  them  on  rocks,  for  the  purpose  of  breaking  them 
to  obtain  their  contents,  otherwise  beyond  his  reach,  —  facts 
observed  by  men  of  credit,  and  recorded  as  an  instinct  of  the 
Raven  by  Pennant  and  Latham.  It  is,  however,  seldom  that 
these  birds,  any  more  than  the  rai)acious  kimls,  feel  an  inclina- 
tion for  drinking,  as  their  thirst  is  usually  quenched  by  the 
blood  and  juices  of  their  prey.  The  Ravens  are  also  more 
social  than  the  birds  of  prey,  —  which  arises  from  the  promis- 
cuous nature  and  consequent  abundance  of  their  food,  which 
allows  a  greater  number  to  subsist  together  in  the  same  place, 
without  being  urged  to  the  stern  necessity  of  solitude  or  fam- 
ine, —  a  condition  to  which  the  true  rapacious  birds  are  always 
driven.  The  habits  of  these  birds  are  much  more  generally 
harmless  than  is  usually  imagined  ;  they  are  useful  to  the  farmer 
in  the  destruction  they  make  of  moles  and  mice,  and  are  often 
very  well  contented  with  insects  and  earth-worms. 

Though  spread  over  the  whole  worki,  they  are  rarely  ever 
birds  of  passage,  enduring  the  winters  even  of  the  Arctic  circle, 
or  the  warmth  of  Mexico,  St.  Domingo,  and  Madagascar. 
They  are  particularly  attached  to  the  rocky  eyries  where  they 
have  been  bred  and  paired.  Throughout  the  year  they  are 
observed  together  in  nearly  equal  numbers,  and  they  never 
entirely  abandon  this  adopted  home.  If  they  descend  into 
the  plain,  it  is  to  collect  subsistence  ;  but  they  resort  to  the 
low  grounds  more  in  winter  than  summer,  as  they  avoid  the 
heat  and  dislike  to  wander  from  their  cool  retreats.  They  never 
roost  in  the  woods,  like  Crows,  and  have  sufficient  sagacity  to 
choose  in  their  rocky  retreats  a  situation  defended  from  the 
winds  of  the  north,  — commonly  under  the  natural  vault  formed 
by  an  extending  ledge  or  cavity  of  the  rock.  Here  they  retire 
during  the  night  in  companies  of  15  to  20.  They  perch  upon 
the  bushes  which  grow  straggling  in  the  clefts  of  the  rocks ; 
but  they  form  their  nests  in  the  rocky  crevices,  or  in  the 
holes  of  the  mouldering  walls,  at  the  summits  of  ruined  towers ; 
and  sometimes  upon  the  high  branches  of  large  and  solitary 
trees.  After  they  have  paired,  their  fidelity  appears  to  continue 
through  life.    The  male  expresses  his  attachment  by  a  particu- 


124 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


lar  strain  of  croaking,  and  both  sexes  are  observed  caressing,  by 
approaciiing  their  bills,  with  as  much  semblance  of  affection  as 
the  truest  turtle-doves.  In  temperate  climates  the  Raven  be- 
gins to  lay  in  the  months  of  February  or  March.  The  eggs  are 
5  or  6,  of  a  pale,  muddy  bluish  green,  marked  with  numerous 
spots  and  lines  of  dark  olive  brown.  She  sits  about  20  days, 
and  during  this  time  the  male  takes  care  to  provide  her  with 
abundance  of  nourishment.  Indeed,  from  the  quantity  of  grain, 
nuts,  and  fruits  which  have  been  found  at  this  time  in  the  envi- 
rons of  the  nest,  this  supply  would  appear  to  be  a  store  laid  up 
for  future  occasions.  Whatever  may  be  their  forethought  re- 
garding food,  they  have  a  well-known  propensity  to  hide  things 
which  come  within  their  reach,  though  useless  to  themselves, 
and  appear  to  give  a  preference  to  pieces  of  metal,  or  any- 
thing which  has  a  brilliant  appearance.  At  F2rfurt,  one  of 
these  birds  had  the  patience  to  carry  and  hide,  one  by  one, 
unde-  a  stone  in  the  garden,  a  quantity  of  small  pieces  of 
money,  which  amounted,  when  discovered,  to  5  or  6  florins ; 
and  there  are  few  countries  which  cannot  afford  similar  instan- 
ces of  their  domestic  thefts. 

Of  the  perseverance  of  the  Raven  in  the  act  of  incubation, 
Mr.  White  has  related  the  following  remarkable  anecdote  :  In 
the  centre  of  a  grove  near  Selborne  there  stood  a  tall  and 
shapeless  oak  which  bulged  out  into  a  large  excrescence  near 
the  middle  of  the  stem.  On  this  tree  a  pair  of  Ravens  had 
fixed  their  residence  for  such  a  series  of  years  that  the  oak 
was  distinguished  by  the  title  of  "  The  Raven  Tree."  Many 
were  the  attempts  of  the  neighboring  youths  to  get  at  this  nest. 
The  difficulty  whetted  their  inclinations,  and  each  was  ambi- 
tious of  accomplishing  the  arduous  task  ;  but  when  they  arrived 
at  the  swelling,  it  jutted  out  so  in  their  way,  and  was  so  far 
beyond  their  grasp,  that  the  boldest  lads  were  deterred,  and 
acknowledged  the  undertaking  to  be  too  hazardous.  Thus  the 
Ravens  continued  to  build,  and  rear  their  young  in  security, 
until  the  fatal  day  on  which  the  wood  was  to  be  levelled. 
This  was  in  the  month  of  Febniary,  when  these  birds  usually 
begin  to  sit.     The  saw  was  applied  to  the  trunk,  the  wedges 


NORTHERN    RAVEN. 


125 


were  driven,  the  woods  echoed  to  the  heavy  blows  of  the  beetle 
or  mallet,  and  the  tree  nodded  to  its  fall  ;  but  still  the  devoted 
Raven  sat  on.  At  last,  when  it  gave  way,  she  was  Hung  from 
her  ancient  eyry ;  and  a  victim  to  parental  affection,  was 
whipped  down  by  the  twigs,  and  brought  lifeless  to  the 
ground. 

The  young,  at  first  more  white  than  black,  are  fed  by  food 
previously  prepared  in  the  craw  of  the  mother  and  then  dis- 
gorged by  the  bill,  nearly  in  the  manner  of  pigeons.  'The  male 
at  this  time,  doubly  vigilant  and  industrious,  not  only  i)rovides 
for,  but  defends  his  family  vigorously  from  every  hostile  attack, 
and  shows  a  particular  enmity  to  the  Kite  when  he  apj^ears  in 
his  neighborhood,  pouncing  upon  him  and  striking  with  his 
bill  until  sometimes  both  antagonists  descend  to  the  ground. 
The  young  are  long  and  affectionately  fed  by  the  parents  ;  and 
though  they  soon  leave  the  nest,  they  remain  perching  on  the 
neighboring  rocks,  yet  unable  to  make  any  extensive  flight,  and 
pass  the  time  in  continual  complaining  cries  till  the  approach 
of  the  parent  with  food,  when  their  note  changes  into  crmci, 
craw,  craw.  Now  and  then  as  they  gam  strength  they  make 
efforts  to  fly,  and  then  return  to  their  rocky  roost.  About  15 
days  after  leaving  the  nest,  they  become  so  well  prepared  for 
flight  as  to  accompany  the  parents  out  on  their  excursions  from 
morning  to  night ;  and  it  is  amusing  to  watch  the  progress  of 
this  affectionate  association,  the  young  continuing  the  whole 
summer  to  go  out  with  the  old  in  the  morning,  and  as  regularly 
return  with  them  again  in  the  evening,  so  that  however  we  may 
despise  the  appetite  of  the  Raven,  we  cannot  but  admire  the 
instinctive  morality  of  his  nature. 

Like  birds  of  prey,  the  Ravens  reject  from  the  stomach,  by 
the  bill,  the  hard  and  indigestible  parts  of  their  food,  as  the 
stones  of  fruit  and  the  bones  of  small  fish  which  they  some- 
times eat. 


Th^-  Northern  Raven  has  been  separated  lately  from  the  "  Mexi- 
can "  race  (for  which  latter  the  name  of  sinuatus  has  been  retained) ; 
but  the  iimits  of  their  distribution  have  not  been  determined.  The 
northern  form  occurs  throughout  Canada  north  to  the  Arctic  Ocean 


126 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


and  west  to  the  Pacific;  but  to  which  form  the  birds  found  in  the 
Eastern  States  are  to  be  referred,  has  not  been  settled  by  the 
authorities. 

Of  late  years  the  Raven  has  almost  forsaken  the  New  England 
shofes,  though  it  is  still  numerous  around  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and 
occurs  locil'v  in  small  numbers  along  the  entire  coast  of  the 
Atlantic,  and  throughout  this  faunal  province.  It  is  more  abundant 
to  the  westv  aid  of  the  Mississippi. 


I 


CROW, 

CORVUS   AMKRICANUS. 

Char.     Black,  with  gloss  of  purple  tinge.     Length  17  to  21  inches. 
Nest.     In  a  tree  ;  made  of  sticks  and  twigs,  lined  with  grass  and  leaves 
Eg};s,    4-6 ;  sea-green  to  dull  olive,  blotched  with  brown  ;  1.70  X  1.20. 

The  Crow,  like  the  Raven,  which  it  greatly  resembles,  is  a 
denizen  of  nearly  the  whole  world.  It  is  found  even  in  New 
Koliund  and  the  Philippine  Islands,  but  is  rare  in  Sweden, 
where  the  Raven  abounds.  It  is  also  common  in  Siberia,  and 
plentiful  in  the  Arctic  deserts  beyond  the  Lena. 

The  native  Crow  is  a  constant  and  troublesomely  abundant 
resident  In  most  of  the  settled  districts  of  North  America, 
as  well  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  Western  wilds  throughout 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  to  the  banks  of  the  Oregon  and  the 
shores  of  the  Pacific.  These  birds  only  retire  into  the  forests 
in  the  breeding  season,  v/hich  lasts  from  March  to  May.  At 
this  time  they  are  dis]^ersed  through  the  woods  in  pairs,  and 
roost  in  the  neighlwrhood  of  the  spot  which  they  have  selected 
for  their  nest ;  and  the  conjugal  union,  once  formed,  continues 
for  life.  They  are  now  very  noisy,  and  vigilant  against  any 
intnision  on  their  purpose,  and  at  times  appear  influenced  bv 
mutual  jealousy,  but  never  proceed  to  any  violence.  The 
tree  they  select  is  generally  lofty,  and  preference  seems  often 
given  to  some  dnrk  and  concealing  evergreen.  The  nest  is 
formed  externally  of  small  twigs  coarsely  interlaced  together, 
plastered  and  matted  with  earth,  moss,  and  long  horse -nair, 


CROW. 


127 


and  thickly  and  carefully  lined  with  large  quantities  of  the  last 
material,  wool,  or  the  finest  fibres  of  roots,  so  as  to  form  a  very 
comfortable  bed  for  the  helpless  and  naked  young. 

The  male  at  this  season  is  extremely  watchful,  reconnoitring 
the  neighborhood,  and  giving  an  alarm  as  any  person  haijpens 
to  approach  towards  their  nest,  when  both  retire  to  a  distance 
till  the  intruder  disappears  ;  and  in  order  the  better  to  conceal 
their  brood,  they  remain  uncommonly  silent  until  these  are  in 
a  situation  to  follow  them  on  the  wing.  The  male  also  carries 
food  to  his  mate  while  confined  to  her  eggs,  and  at  times 
relieves  her  by  sitting  in  her  absence.  In  Europe,  when  the 
Raven,  the  Buzzard,  or  the  Kestrel  makes  his  appearance,  the 
pair  join  instantly  in  the  attack,  and  sometimes,  by  dint  of  furi- 
ous blows,  destroy  their  enemy ;  yet  the  Butcher  Bird,  more 
alert  and  courageous,  not  only  resists,  but  often  vanciuishes 
the  Crows  and  carries  off  their  young.  Like  the  Ra\ens, 
endue(i  with  an  unrestrained  and  natural  affection,  they  con- 
tinue the  whole  succeeding  summer  to  succor  and  accompany 
their  offspring  in  all  their  undertakings  and  excuisions. 

The  Crow  is  equally  omnivorous  with  the  Raven  ;  insects, 
worms,  carrion,  fish,  grain,  fruits,  and  in  short  everything 
digestible  by  any  or  all  the  birds  in  existence,  being  alike 
acceptable  to  this  gormandizing  animal.  Its  destruction  of 
bird-eggs  is  also  very  considerable.  In  Munjiic  (  rows  are  often 
detected  feeding  their  voracious  young  with  the  precious  eggs 
of  the  Partridge,  which  they  very  sagaciously  convey  by  care- 
fully piercing  and  sticking  them  expertly  on  the  bill.  They 
also  know  how  to  break  nuts  and  shtll-fish  by  dropping  tlum 
from  a  great  height  upon  the  rocks  l)'.'low.  They  visit  even  the 
snares  and  devour  the  birds  ^vhich  they  find  caught,  attacking 
the  weak  and  wounded  game.  They  also  sometimes  seize  on 
young  chickens  and  1  )ucks,  and  have  even  been  observed  to 
pounce  upon  Pigeons  in  the  manner  of  Hawks,  and  with  almost 
equal  success.  So  familiar  and  audacious  are  they  in  some 
parts  of  the  Levant  that  they  will  frequent  the  courts  of  houses, 
and,  like  Harpies,  alight  bol<lly  on  the  dishes,  as  the  servants  are 
conveying  in  the  dinner,  anil  carry  off  the  meat,  if  not  driven 


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128 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


away  by  blows.  In  turn,  however,  the  Crow  finds  enemies  too 
powerful  for  him  to  conquer,  such  as  the  Kite  and  Eagle  Owl, 
who  occasionally  make  a  meal  of  this  carrion  bird,  —  a  voracious 
propensity  which  the  Virginian  Owl  also  sometimes  exhibits 
towards  the  same  species.  Wherever  the  Crow  appears,  the 
smaller  birds  take  the  alarm,  and  vent  upon  him  their  just 
suspicions  and  reproaches.  But  it  is  only  the  redoubtable 
King  Bird  who  has  courage  for  the  attack,  beginning  the  onset 
by  pursuing  and  diving  on  his  back  from  above,  and  haras- 
sing the  plunderer  with  such  violence  that  he  is  generally  glad 
to  get  out  of  the  way  and  forego  his  piratical  visit ,  in  short,  a 
single  pair  of  these  courageous  and  quarrelsome  birds  are  suf- 
ficient to  clear  the  Crows  from  an  extensive  cornfield. 

The  most  serious  mischief  of  which  the  Crow  is  guilty 
is  that  of  pillaging  the  maize-field.  He  commences  at  the 
l)lanting-time  by  picking  up  and  rooting  out  the  sprouting 
grain,  and  in  the  autumn,  when  it  becomes  ripe,  whole  tlocks, 
now  assembled  at  their  roosting-places,  blacken  the  neighboring 
fields  as  soon  as  they  get  into  motion,  and  do  extensive  dam- 
age at  every  visit,  from  the  excessive  numbers  who  now  rush  to 
the  inviting  feast. 

Their  rendezvous  or  roosting-places  are  the  resort  in  au- 
tumn of  all  the  Crows  and  their  families  for  many  miles  rounr* 
The  blackening  silent  train  continues  to  arrive  for  more  tha  . 
an  hour  before  sunset,  and  some  still  straggle  on  until  dark. 
They  never  arrive  in  dense  flocks,  but  always  in  long  lines, 
each  falling  into  the  file  as  he  sees  opportunity.  This  gregarious 
inclination  is  common  to  many  birds  in  the  autumn  which 
associate  only  in  pairs  in  the  summer.  The  forests  and  groves, 
stripped  of  their  agreeable  and  protecting  verdi.re,  seem  no 
longer  safe  and  pleasant  to  the  feathered  nations.  Exposed  to 
the  birds  of  prey,  which  daily  augment  in  numbers  ;  penetrated 
by  the  chilling  blasts,  which  sweep  without  control  through  the 
naked  branches,  —  the  birds,  now  impelled  by  an  overruling 
instinct,  seek  in  congregated  numbers  some  general,  safer,  and 
more  commodious  retreat.  Islands  of  reeds,  dark  and  solitary 
thickets,  and  neglected  swamps,  are  the  situations  chosen  for 


CROW. 


129 


their  general  diurnal  retreats  and  roosts.  Swallows,  Blackbirds, 
Rice  Birds,  and  C'rows  seem  always  to  prefer  the  low  shelter  of 
reed- flats.  On  the  River  Delaware,  in  Pennsylvania,  there  are 
two  of  these  remarkable  Crow-roosts.  I'he  one  mentioned  by 
Wilson  is  an  island  near  Newcastle  called  the  Pea-Patch,  —  a 
low,  flat,  alluvial  spot,  just  elevated  above  high-water  mark, 
and  thickly  covered  with  reeds,  on  which  the  Crows  alight 
and  take  shelter  for  the  night.  Whether  this  roost  be  now 
occupied  by  these  birds  or  not,  I  cannot  pretenil  to  say ;  but  in 
December,  1829,  I  had  occasion  to  observe  their  arrival  on 
Reedy  Island,  just  above  the  commencement  of  the  bay  of  that 
river,  in  vast  numbers ;  and  as  the  wind  wafted  any  beating 
vessel  towards  the  shore,  they  rose  in  a  cloud  and  filled  the 
air  with-  clamor.  Indeed,  their  vigilant  and  restless  ciuoing 
continued  till  after  dark. 

Creatures  of  mere  instinct,  they  foresee  no  perils  beyond 
their  actual  vision  ;  and  thus,  when  they  least  expect  it,  are 
sometimes  swept  away  by  an  unexpected  destruction.  Some 
years  ago,  during  the  prevalence  of  a  sudden  and  violent  north- 
east storm  accompanied  by  heavy  rains,  the  Pea- Patch  Island 
was  wholly  inundated  in  the  night ;  and  the  unfortunate  Crows, 
dormant  and  bewildered,  made  no  attempts  to  escape,  and 
were  drowned  by  thousands,  so  that  their  bodies  blackened  the 
shores  the  following  day  for  several  miles  in  extent. 

The  Crows,  like  many  other  birds,  become  injurious  and 
formidable  only  in  the  gregarious  season.  At  other  times  they 
live  so  scattered,  and  are  so  shy  and  cautious,  that  they  are 
but  seldom  seen.  But  their  armies,  like  all  other  great  and 
terrific  assemblies,  have  the  power,  in  limited  districts,  of 
doing  very  sensible  mischief  to  the  agricultural  interests  of  vhe 
community  ;  and  in  consequence,  the  poor  Crows,  notwith- 
standing their  obvious  services  in  the  destniction  of  a  vast  host 
of  insects  and  their  larvae,  are  proscribed  as  felons  in  all  civil- 
ized countries,  and,  with  the  wolves,  panthers,  and  foxes,  a 
price  is  put  upon  their  heads.  In  consequence,  variotis  means 
of  ensnaring  the  outlaws  have  been  had  recourse  to.  Of  the 
gini  they  are  very  cautious,  and  suspect  its  appearance  at  the 

VOL.  I.  —  9 


;ii  1 


I30 


SINGING   BiKDS. 


fir.y  glance,  perceiving  witii  ready  sagacity  the  v;:'}  'nrnnrr  of 
the  lowler.  So  fearful  and  suspicious  are  lAey  of  huaiiin  arii- 
fices  that  a  mere  line  stretched  round  a  f.tld  is  oRcii  fjund 
sufficient  to  deter  these  wily  birds  from  a  visit  to  the  cornfield. 
Against  poison  they  are  not  so  guarded,  and  sometimes  corn 
steeped  in  hellebore  is  given  them,  which  creates  giddiness 
and  death. 

Another  curious  method  is  that  of  pinning  a  live  Crow  t(-  the 
ground  by  the  wings,  stretched  out  on  his  back,  and  retained 
in  this  posture  by  two  sharp,  forked  sticks.  In  this  situation, 
his  loud  cries  attract  other  Crows,  who  come  sweeping  tlown 
to  the  prostrate  prisoner,  and  are  grappled  in  his  claws.  In 
this  way  each  ':essive  prisoner  may  be  made  the  innocent 
means  of  capturing  his  companion.  The  reeds  in  which  they 
roost,  when  dry  enough,  are  sometimes  set  on  fire  also  to  pro- 
cure their  destruction ;  and  to  add  to  the  fatality  produced  by 
the  llanies,  gunners  are  also  stationed  round  to  destroy  those 
that  attempt  to  escape  by  flight.  In  severe  winters  ihcy  suffer 
occasionally  from  famine  and  cold,  ;ind  fall  sometnues  dead 
in  the  fields.  According  to  Wilson,  in  one  of  these  severe 
seasons,  more  than  600  Crows  were  shot  on  the  carcase  of  a 
dead  horse,  which  was  plactvi  ^  a  proper  shooting  distance 
from  a  stable.  'I'he  i)remiums  obtained  for  these,  niA  the  price 
procured  for  the  (piills,  produced  to  the  farmer  near')  'he  value 
of  the  horse  when  li^•ing,  besides  afforiling  feathers  suftlcient  to 
fill  a  bed. 

The  Crow  is  ertsily  raistv'  '1  domesticated,  and  soon  learns 
to  distinguish  the  different  members  of  the  family  with  which 
he  is  associated.  He  screams  at  the  approach  of  a  stranger  ; 
learns  to  open  the  door  by  alighting  on  the  latch ;  attends 
regularly  at  meal  times  ;  is  very  no^sy  and  loquacious  ;  imitates 
the  sounds  of  various  won!s  which  he  hears ;  is  very  thievish, 
given  to  hiding  curiosities  in  holes  and  crevices,  and  is  very 
fond  of  carrying  off  pieces  of  metal,  com,  bread,  and  food  of 
all  kinds ;  he  is  also  particularly  attached  to  the  society  of  his 
master,  and  recollects  him  sometimes  after  a  long  absence. 

It  is  commonly  believed  and  asserted  in  some  parts  of  this 


FISH   CROW. 


131 


country  that  the  Crows  engage  at  times  in  genenl  c  mbat ; 
but  it  has  ne\'er  been  ascertained  whether  this  hostiUty  arises 
from  civil  discord,  or  the  opposition  of  two  different  species 
contesting  for  some  exclusive  privilege  of  subsisting  ground. 
It  is  well  known  that  Rooks  often  contend  with  each  other, 
and  drive  away  by  every  persecuting  means  individuals  who 
arrive  among  them  from  any  other  rookery. 

Note.  —  The  Florida  Crow  {C.  americanus floridanus)  differs 
from  true  americanus  in  having  tlie  wings  and  tail  shorter,  and  the 
bill  and  feet  larger.     It  is  restricted  to  southern  Florida. 


FISH    CROW. 

CORVUS   OSSIFRAGUS. 

Char.     Black  glossed  with  steel-blue.     Length  15  to  17^  inches. 
A'est.     On  a  tree  ;  of  sticks  and  twigs  firmly  laid,  lined  with  leaves. 
Egffs.     5-7 ;    -sea-green   or  olive,  blotched  and  spotted  with  brown  5 
1.50  X  1.05. 

Wilson  was  the  first  to  observe  the  distinctive  traits  of  this 
smaller  and  peculiar  .American  species  cf  Crow  along  the  sea- 
coast  of  Ceorgia.  It  is  met  with  as  far  north  as  the  coast  cf 
New  Jersey;  and  although  we  did  not  see  it  m  the  western 
interior  of  the  continent,  it  is  common  on  the  banks  of  the 
Oregon,  where  it  was  nesting  in  the  month  of  .April.  5? 
keeps  apart  from  the  common  species,  and  instead  f  f  assem- 
bling to  roost  among  the  reeds  at  night,  retires,  towards 
evening,  from  the  shortts  which  afford  it  a  subsistence,  and 
perches  in  the  neighboring  woods.  Its  notes,  probably  various, 
are  at  times  hoarse  and  guttural,  at  others  weaker  and  higher. 
These  Crows  pass  most  of  their  time  near  rivers,  hovering  over 
the  stream  to  catch  up  dead  and  perhaps  living  fish,  or  oth».r 
animal  matters  which  float  within  their  reach  ;  at  these  they 
dive  with  considerable  celerity,  and  seizing  them  in  their  claws, 
convey  them  to  an  adjoining  tree,  and  devour  the  fruits  of 
their  predatory  industry  at  leisure.    They  also  snatch  up  water- 


132 


SLNGING  BIRDS. 


lizards  in  the  same  manner,  and  feed  upon  small  crabs;  at 
times  they  are  seen  even  contending  with  the  Ciulls  for  their 
prey.  It  is  amusing  to  sec  with  what  steady  watchfulness  they 
hover  over  the  water  in  search  of  their  precarious  food,  having, 
in  fact,  all  the  traits  of  the  Gull ;  but  they  subsist  more  on 
accidental  supplies  than  by  any  regular  system  of  fishing.  On 
land  they  have  sometimes  all  the  familiarity  of  the  Magpie, 
hopping  upon  the  backs  of  cattle,  in  whose  company  they  no 
doubt  occasionally  meet  with  a  sui)ply  of  insects  when  other 
sources  fail.  They  are  also  regular  in  their  attendance  on  the 
fishermen  of  New  Jersey  for  the  purpose  of  gleaning  up  the 
refuse  of  the  fish.  They  are  less  shy  and  suspicious  than 
the  common  Crow,  and  showing  no  inclination  for  plundering 
the  cornfields,  are  rather  friends  than  enemies  to  the  farmer. 
They  ap))ear  near  Philadelphia  from  the  middle  of  March  to 
the  beginning  of  June,  during  the  season  of  the  shad  and  herring 
fishery. 

The  habitat  now  accorded  to  this  species  is  "the  Atlantic  and 
riuli  States  nort'ii  to  Long  Island  and  west  to  Louisiana."  It 
piuba!>ly  occurs  occasionally  alonj;  the  Connecticut  shore,  and  may 
straggl',  into  Massachusetts  ;  though  Mr.  Allen  has  omitted  it  from 
iiis  list. 

On  the  Pacific  coast  it  is  replaced  by  C.  caurinus. 

All  Crows  are  more  or  less  fish-eaters,  and  in  some  localities  fish 
forms  their  staple  diet.  On  the  shores  of  Cape  Breton,  near  the 
coal  districts,  the  fisli-oating  Crows  are  separated  by  the  natives 
from  the  ( ommon  sort.  It  is  said  that  the  flight  and  voice  of  these 
birds  ca.i  be  readily  distinu;uishcd.  Some  miners  working  at 
Lepreaux,  in  New  Brunswick,  who  were  familiar  with  the  fish- 
eating  Crows  of  Cape  Breton,  drew  my  attention  to  a  flock  of 
appare".ly  small  and  peeuliar-voiced  Crows  gleaning  along  the 
shoi  " - :  but  though  easily  trapped  by  a  fish  bait,  they  proved  to 
bo  nothing  more  than  rather  small  common  Crows. 


Norii:.  -  The  American  Magpie  {Pica  pica  hudsonica)  is  a 
vVesterr  anr'  Northwestern  bird,  and  occurs  as  a  straggler  only 
cast  ot  til"  Mississippi.  It  has  been  taken  in  Michij^an,  northern 
IlUn<:is,  and  western  Onurio  ;  also  at  Chambly,  near  Montreal. 


's-ir-i 


"im 


BLUE    JAY. 

CYAN(K^mA    CRISTATA. 

Char.  Above,  purplish  blue;  below,  pale  purplish  urav,  lighter  on 
throat  and  tail-coverts  :  wings  and  tail  bright  blue  barred  with  black  ;  wing 
coverts,  secondaries,  and  must  of  tail-feathers  bmadlv  tipped  with  white 
Head  conspicuously  crested ;  tail  wedge-shaped.  Length  ii  to  12}^  inches 

AWA  In  a  small  conifer,  about  20  feet  from  the  grotmd,  situated  in 
deep  forest  or  near  a  settlement ;  roughly  but  firmly  constructed  of  twigs 
and  roots,  and  lined  with  fine  roots. 

i'Ti.ri.'-.r.  4-5;  pale  olive  or  buff,  spotted  with  yellowish  brown;  i  10 
X  0.85. 

This  elegant  and  common  species  is  met  with  in  the  interior, 
from  the  remote  northwestern  regions  near  Peace  River,  in  the 
54th  to  the  56th  degree,  Lake  Winnipeg  in  the  49th  degree, 
the  eastern  steppes  of  the  Rocky  Moimtains,  and  southwest 
ward  to  the  banks  of  the  .Arkansas  ;  also  along  the  Atlantic 
regions  from  the  confines  of  Newfoundland  to  the  peninsula  of 
Florida  and  the  shores  of  the  (iulf  of  Mexico. 


■— 


134 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


The  Blue  Jay  is  a  constant  inhabitant  both  of  the  wooded 
wilderness  and  the  vicinity  of  the  settled  farm,  though  more 
familiar  at  the  approach  of  winter  and  early  in  spring  than  at 
any  other  season.  These  wanderings  or  limited  migrations  are 
induced  by  necessity  alone ;  his  hoards  of  grain,  nuts,  and 
acorns  either  have  foiled  or  are  forgotten :  for,  like  other 
misers,  he  is  more  assiduous  to  amass  than  to  expend  or  en- 
joy his  stores,  and  the  fruits  of  his  labors  very  frequently  either 
devolve  to  the  rats  or  squirrels,  or  accidentally  assist  in  the 
replanting  of  the  forest.  His  visits  at  this  time  are  not  un- 
frequent  in  the  garden  and  orchard,  and  his  usual  petulant 
address  of  djdy,  Jay,  j'dy,  and  other  harsh  and  trumpeting 
articulations,  soon  make  his  retreat  known  to  all  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. So  habitual  is  this  sentinel  cry  of  alarm,  and  so  ex- 
pressive, that  all  the  birds  within  call,  as  well  as  other  wild 
animals,  are  instantly  on  the  alert,  so  that  the  fowler  and 
hunter  become  generally  disajipointed  of  their  game  by  this 
his  garrulous  and  noisy  propensity ;  he  is  therefore,  for  his 
petulance,  frequently  killed  without  pity  or  profit,  as  his  flesh, 
though  eaten,  has  but  little  to  recommend  it.  His  more  com- 
plaisant notes,  when  undisturbed,  though  guttural  and  echoing, 
are  by  no  means  unpleasant,  and  fall  in  harmoniously  with  the 
cadence  of  the  feathered  choristers  around  him,  so  as  to  form 
a  finishing  part  to  the  general  music  of  the  grove.  His  ac- 
cents of  blandishment,  when  influenced  by  the  softer  passions, 
are  low  and  musical,  so  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  beyond  the 
thick  branches  where  he  sits  concealed  ;  but  as  soon  as  dis- 
covered he  bursts  out  into  notes  of  rage  and  reproach,  accom- 
panying his  voice  by  jerks  and  actions  of  temerity  and  defiance. 
Indeed  the  Jay  of  luiroj)e,  with  whom  our  beau  agrees  entirely 
in  habits,  is  so  irascible  and  violent  in  his  movements  as  some- 
times to  strangle  himself  in  the  narrow  fork  of  a  branch  from 
which  he  has  been  found  suspended.  Like  the  European  spe- 
cies, he  also  exhibits  a  great  antipathy  to  the  Owl,  and  by  his 
loud  and  savage  vociferation  soon  brings  together  a  noisy  troop 
of  all  the  busy  birds  in  the  neighborhood.  To  this  garnilous 
attack  the  night  wanderer  has  no  reply  but  a  threatening  stare 


BLUE  JAY. 


135 


of  indifference  ;  and  as  soon  as  opportunity  offers,  he  quietly 
slips  from  his  slandering  company.  Advantage  in  some  coun- 
tries is  taken  of  this  dislike  for  the  purpose  of  catching  birds ; 
thus  the  ( )\vl,  bfing  let  out  of  a  box,  sometimes  makes  a  hoot, 
which  instantly  assembles  a  motley  group,  who  are  then  caught 
by  liming  the  neighboring  twigs  on  which  they  perch.  In  this 
gossip  the  Jay  and  Crow  are  always  sure  to  take  part  if  within 
sight  or  hearing  of  the  call,  and  are  thus  caught  or  destroyed 
at  will.  The  common  Jay  is  even  fond  of  imitating  the  harsh 
voice  of  the  Owl  and  the  noisy  Kestrel.  1  have  also  heard  the 
Blue  Jay  mock  with  a  taunting  accent  the  ke  no,  ir  00,  or  quail- 
ing, of  the  Red-shouldered  Hawk.  Wilson  likewise  hearil  him 
take  singular  satisfaction  in  teasing  and  mocking  the  little 
American  Sparrow  Hawk,  and  imposing  upon  him  by  the  pre- 
tended plaints  of  a  wounded  bird  ;  in  which  frolic  several  would 
appear  to  join,  until  their  sport  sometimes  ended  in  sudden 
consternation,  by  the  Hawk,  justly  enough,  pouncing  on  one  of 
them  as  his  legitimate  and  devoted  prey. 

His  talent  for  mimicry  when  domesticated  is  likewise  so  far 
capable  of  improvement  as  to  enable  him  to  imitate  human 
sj^eech,  articulating  words  with  some  distinctness ;  and  on 
hearing  voices,  like  a  Parrot,  he  would  endeavor  to  contribute 
his  important  share  to  the  tumult.  Bewick  remarks  of  the 
common  Jay  of  Europe  that  he  heard  one  so  exactly  counter- 
feit the  action  of  a  saw  that,  though  on  a  Sunday,  he  could 
scarcely  be  persuaded  but  that  some  carpenter  was  at  work. 
Another,  unfortunately,  rendered  himself  a  serious  nuisance  by 
learning  to  hound  a  cur  dog  upon  the  domestic  cattle,  whistling 
and  calling  him  by  name,  so  that  at  length  a  serious  accident 
occurring  in  consequence,  the  poor  Jay  was  proscribed. 

One  which  I  have  seen  in  a  state  of  domestication  behaved 
with  all  the  quietness  and  modest  humility  of  Wilson's  caged 
bird  with  a  petulant  companion.  He  seldom  used  his  voice, 
came  in  to  lodge  in  the  house  at  night  in  any  corner  where  he 
was  little  observed,  but  unfortunately  perished  by  an  accident 
before  the  completion  of  his  education. 

The  favorite  food  of  this  species  is  chestnuts,  accns,  and 


\ 


J 


U- 


if  « 


i  'i 


136 


SINGING    BIRDS. 


Indian  corn  or  maize,  the  latter  of  which  he  breaks  before 
swallowing.  He  also  feeds  occasionally  on  the  larger  insects 
and  caterpillars,  as  well  as  orchard  fruits,  particularly  cherries, 
and  does  not  even  refuse  the  humble  fare  of  potatoes.  In 
times  of  scarcity  he  falls  upon  carrion,  and  has  been  knou  n  to 
venture  into  the  barn,  through  accidental  openings ;  when,  as 
if  sensible  of  the  danger  of  purloining,  he  is  active  and  silent, 
and  if  surprised,  postponing  his  garrulity,  he  retreats  with 
noiseless  precipitation  and  with  all  the  cowardice  of  a  thief. 
The  worst  trait  of  his  appetit*-,  however,  is  his  relish  for  the 
eggs  of  other  birds,  in  quest  of  which  he  may  frequently  be 
seen  prowling ;  and  with  a  savage  cruelty  he  sometimes  also 
devours  the  callow  young,  spreading  the  plaint  of  sorrow  and 
alarm  wherever  he  flits.  The  whole  neighboring  community 
of  little  birds,  assembled  at  the  cry  of  distress,  sometimes,  how- 
ever, succeed  m  driving  off  the  ruthless  plunderer,  who,  not 
always  content  with  the  young,  has  been  seen  to  attack  the  old, 
though  with  dubious  success ;  but  to  the  gallant  and  quarrel- 
some King  Hird  he  submits  like  a  coward,  and  driven  to  seek 
shelter,  even  on  the  ground,  from  the  repeated  blows  of  his 
antagonist,  sneaks  off  well  contented  to  save  his  life. 

Although  a  few  of  these  birds  are  seen  with  us  nearly  through 
the  winter,  numbers,  no  doubt,  make  predatory  excursions  to 
milder  regions,  so  that  they  appear  somewhat  abundant  at  this 
season  in  the  South  jm  States  ;  yet  they  are  known  to  rear  their 
young  from  Canada  to  South  Carolina,  so  that  their  migrations 
may  be  nothing  more  than  journeys  from  the  highlands 
towards  the  warmer  and  more  productive  sea-coast,  or  eastern 
frontier. 

East  of  the,  Mississippi  the  Blue  Jay  has  been  rarely  seen  north 
of  the  50th  parallel. 

Note.  —  A  smaller  race,  which  differs  also  from  true  cristata  in 
having  less  white  on  the  tips  of  the  secondaries  and  tail-feathers,' 
has  been  named  the  Florida  Blue  Jay  (C  cristata Jiorincola). 
It  is  found  in  Florida  only. 


FLORIDA  JAV.  1 37 

FLORIDA   JAV. 
Aphkukoma  floridana. 

Char.  Above,  dull  azure  blue;  back  with  patch  of  brownish  gray ; 
throat  and  chest  grayish  white  streaked  with  ashy  ;  l)elly,  brownish  gray. 
No  crest ,  tail  longer  than  wing.     Length  lo,^  to  12^  inches. 

Ntit.  In  low  tree  or  thicket  of  bushes  ;  made  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined 
with  fine  roots  and  moss. 

Eggs.  4-5 ;  pale  green  or  bluish  gray,  spotted  with  rufous  and  black  ; 
I  10  X  o  80. 

This  elegant  species  is,  as  far  as  yet  known,  almost  wholly 
confined  to  the  interior  of  the  mild  peninsula  of  Kast  Florida. 
In  a  tour  through  the  lower  parts  of  Cieorgia  and  West  Florida, 
protracted  to  the  middle  of  March,  I  saw  none  of  these  birds  ; 
and  at  the  approach  of  winter  they  even  retire  to  the  south 
of  St.  Augustine,  as  Mr.  Ord  did  not  meet  with  them  until 
about  the  middle  of  February ;  from  that  time,  however,  they 
were  seen  daily,  flying  low  and  hopping  through  the  luxuriant 
thickets,  or  peeping  from  the  dark  branches  of  the  live-oaks 
which  adorn  the  outlet  of  the  St.  Juan.  These  birds  appear 
to  possess  the  usual  propensities  of  their  tribe,  being  quarrel- 
some, active,  and  garmlous.  Their  voice  is  less  harsh  than 
that  of  the  common  Blue  Jay,  and  they  have  a  variety  of  notes, 
some  of  which,  probably  imitations,  are  said  to  have  a  resem- 
blance to  the  song  of  the  Thrush  and  the  call  of  the  common 

Jay. 

Only  a  single  brood  is  r:iised  in  the  season.  Its  food  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  other  species ;  namely,  berries,  fruits, 
mast,  and  insects.  It  likewise  collects  snails  from  the  marshy 
grounds,  feeds  largely  on  the  seeds  of  the  sword-palmetto ; 
and,  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmouse,  it  secures  its  food  be- 
tween its  feet,  and  breaks  it  into  pieces  previous  to  swallowing. 
Like  other  species  of  the  genus,  it  destroys  the  eggs  and  young 
of  small  birds,  despatching  the  latter  by  repeated  blows  on  the 
head.  It  is  also  easily  reconciled  to  the  cage,  and  feeds  on 
fresh  or  dried  fruits  and  various  kinds  of  nuts.  Its  attempts  at 
mimicry  in  this  state  are  very  imperfect. 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


2^  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  879-4503 


CANADA  JAY. 

whiskey  jack.  moose  bird. 

Perisoreus  canadensis. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray ;  head  and  nape  smoky  black ;  forehead 
and  lower  parts  whitish  gray ;  breast  brownish  gray ;  wings  and  tail 
dark  ashy,  tipped  obscurely  with  white.  Young:  uniform  dull  smoky 
black,  paler  beneath.     Length,  ii  to  12  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  coniferous  tree ;  a  bulky  but  compact  structure  of  dried 
twigs,  shreds  of  bark  and  moss  thickly  lined  with  feathers. 

Es^fis.  4-5 ;  of  light  gray  or  huffish,  spotted  with  dark  gray,  lilac  gray, 
and  pale  brown  ;  1.15  X  0.80. 

This  species,  with  the  intrasive  habits  and  plain  plumage  of 
the  Pie,  is  almost  confined  to  the  northern  regions  of  America, 
being  met  with  around  Hudson's  Bay,  but  becoming  rare  near 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  in  winter  only  straggling  along  the  coast 
as  far  as  Nova  Scotia.  Westward,  occasionally  driven  by  the 
severity  of  the  weather  and  failure  of  food,  they  make  their 
appearance  in  small  parties  in  the  interior  of  Mair  <^  ind  north- 


HiS' 


CANADA  JAY. 


139 


em  parts  of  Vermont,  where,  according  to  Audubon,  they  are 
frequently  known  to  breed.  They  also  descend  into  the  State 
of  New  York  as  far  as  the  town  of  Hudson  and  the  banks  of 
the  Mohawk.  In  the  month  of  May  I  observed  a  wandering 
brood  of  these  birds,  old  and  young,  on  the  shady  borders 
of  the  Wahlamet,  in  the  Oregon  territory,  where  they  had 
probably  b»^,en  bred.  They  descended  to  the  ground  near  a 
spring  in  quest  of  insects  and  small  shells. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  like  the  Pie,  when  near  the 
habitations  and  tents  of  the  inhabitants  and  natives,  it  is  given 
to  pilfering  everything  within  reach,  and  is  sometimes  so  bold 
as  to  venture  into  the  tents  and  snatch  the  meat  from  the 
dishes  even,  whether  fresh  or  salt.  It  has  also  the  mischievous 
sagacity  of  watching  the  hunters  set  their  traps  for  the  Martin, 
from  which  it  purloins  the  bait.  Its  appetite,  like  that  of  the 
Crow,  appears  omnivorous.  It  feeds  on  worms,  various  insects, 
and  their  larvae,  and  on  flesh  of  different  ^ ;  lays  up  stores 

of  berries  in  hollow  trees  for  winter ;  and  at  times,  with  the 
reindeer,  is  driven  to  the  necessity  of  feeding  on  lichens. 
The  severe  winters  of  the  wilds  it  inhabits,  urges  it  to  seek 
support  in  the  vicinity  of  habitations.  Like  the  common  Jay, 
at  this  season  it  leaves  the  woods  to  make  excursions  after 
food,  trying  every  means  for  subsistence ;  and  tamed  by  hun- 
ger, it  seeks  boldly  the  society  of  men  and  animals.  These 
birds  are  such  praters  as  to  be  considered  Mocking  Birds,  and 
are  superstitiously  dreaded  by  the  aborigines.  They  com- 
monly fly  in  pairs  or  rove  in  small  families,  are  no  way  difficult 
to  approach,  and  keep  up  a  kind  of  friendly  chattering,  some- 
times repeating  their  notes  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  a  time, 
immediately  before  snow  or  falling  weather.  When  caught, 
they  seldom  long  survive,  though  they  never  neglect  their  food. 
Like  most  of  their  genus,  they  breed  early  in  the  spring,  build- 
ing their  nests,  which  are  formed  of  twigs  and  grass  in  the  pine- 
trees.  They  lay  4  to  6  light-grayish  eggs,  faintly  marked  with 
brown  spots.  The  young  brood,  at  first,  are  perfect  Crows,  or 
nearly  quite  black,  and  continue  so  for  some  time. 

According  to  Richardson,  this  inelegant  but  familiar  bird 


1. 


140 


SINGINr   BIRDS. 


inhabits  all  the  woody  districts  of  the  remote  fur  countries  from 
the  65th  parallel  to  Canada,  and  now  and  then  in  severe  win- 
ters extends  his  desultory  migrations  within  the  northern  limits 
of  the  United  States.  Scarcely  has  the  winter  traveller  in  those 
cold  regions  chosen  a  suitable  place  of  repose  in  the  forest, 
cleared  away  the  snow,  lighted  his  fire,  and  prepared  his  tent, 
when  Whiskey  Jack  insidiously  pays  him  a  visit,  and  boldly 
descends  into  the  social  circle  to  pick  up  any  crumbs  of  frozen 
fish  or  morsels  of  dry  meat  that  may  have  escaped  the  mouths 
of  the  weary  and  hungry  sledge-dogs.  This  confidence  is  almost 
the  only  recommendation  of  our  familiar  intruder.  There  is 
nothing  pleasing  in  his  voice,  plumage,  or  attitudes.  But  this 
dark,  sinister  dwarf  of  the  North  is  now  the  only  inhabitant  of 
those  silent  and  trackless  forests,  and  trusting  from  necessity  in 
the  forbearance  of  man,  he  fearlessly  approaches,  and  craves 
his  allowed  pittance  from  the  wandering  stranger  who  visits  his 
dreary  domain.  At  the  fur  posts  and  fishing  stations  he  is  also 
a  steady  attendant,  becoming  so  tamed  m  the  winter  by  the 
terrible  inclemency  of  the  climate  as  to  eat  tamely  from  the 
offered  hand ;  yet  at  the  same  time,  wild  and  indomitable 
under  this  garb  of  humility,  he  seldom  survives  long  in  confine- 
ment, and  pines  away  with  the  loss  of  his  accustomed  liberty. 
He  hops  with  activity  from  branch  to  branch,  but  when  at  rest, 
sits  with  his  head  drawn  in,  and  with  his  plumage  loose.  The 
voice  of  this  inelegant  bird  is  plaintive  and  squeaking,  though 
he  occasionally  makes  a  low  chattering,  especially  when  his  food 
appears  in  view.  Like  oir  Blue  Jay,  he  has  the  habit  of  hoard- 
ing berries,  morsels  of  meat,  etc.,  in  the  hollows  of  trees  or 
beneath  their  bark.  These  magazines  prove  useful  in  winter, 
and  enable  him  to  rear  his  hardy  brood  even  before  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  snow  from  the  ground,  and  long  before  any 
other  bird  indigenous  to  those  climates.  The  nest  is  concealed 
with  such  care  that  but  few  of  the  natives  have  seen  it. 


Whiskey  Jack  has  evidently  moved  somewhat  southward  since 
Nuttall  made  his  observations,  for  the  species  is  now  a  fairly  com- 
mon resident  ot  the  Maritime  Provinces  of  Canada,  as  well  as  of 
the  northern  portions  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  New 


CANADA  JAY. 


141 


York,  and  Michigan.  Near  Ottawa,  and  in  the  Muskoka  district 
of  Ontario,  it  occurs  regularly,  though  it  is  not  abundant.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1889,  one  example  was  taken  at  Arlington  Heights,  near 
Boston. 

I  examined  a  nest  taken  near  Edmundston,  New  Brunswick,  on 
April  7,  1883,  at  which  date  the  country  there  was  covered  with 
snow  and  ice.  The  nest  was  placed  on  a  small  tree  near  the  main 
highway,  and  not  many  hundred  yards  from  the  railroad  station. 
As  the  cold  in  that  region  is  intense,  the  temperature  often  being  at 
—  30°  to  —  40°  F.  in  midwinter,  it  is  surprising  that  the  eggs  are 
ever  hatched.  But  the  nest  is  made  very  warm,  and  the  birds  sit 
close,  and  when  one  parent  steps  off  the  other  at  once  steps  on. 

By  the  first  of  June  the  young  are  in  full  feather  and  taking  care 
of  themselves. 

Nuttall's  opinion  that  these  birds  appear  bold  and  familiar  only 
when  pressed  by  the  hunger  of  winter,  has  not  found  support  in  my 
experience.  Frequently  when  camping  in  the  New  Brunswick 
woods  during  the  summer  vacation  I  have  seen  numbers  of  these 
birds  gather  about  my  camp-fire  within  a  few  minutes  after  it  has 
been  lighted;  and  they  did  not  hesitate  to  pick  up  a  piece  of  mfat 
thrown  toward  them.  Several  other  observers,  however,  have  re- 
corded a  similar  opinion  to  Nuttall's ;  and  it  may  be  that  the  fearless 
birds  are  restricted  to  localities  where  they  are  not  disturbed. 

The  Canadian  hunters  and  lumbermen  have  a  superstitious 
respect  for  these  birds,  fearing  the  ill-luck  that  is  said  to  result 
from  killing  one,  and  Whiskey  Jack  may  have  discovered  that. 


Note.  —  The  Labrador  Jay  (S.  cnnadetisis  nigricapilus) 
differs  from  true  canadensis  in  being  darker  in  general  coloration. 
It  is  restricted  to  the  coast  region  of  Labrador. 


r'''.«;X^':^'^V)^ 


TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 
Parus  bicolor. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash;  beneath,  dull  white;  flanks  tinged  with 
yellowish  brown  '^^  shead  black  ;  head  conspicuously  crested.  Length 
SH  to  6/^  inchcb. 

A'lSt.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree  or  stump  ;  composed  of  leaves,  moss,  or 
woollen  material,  lined  with  feathers. 

^A^'^'  S~8  i  white  or  pale  cream,  spotted  with  reddish  brown ;  0.75 
X  0.55. 

From  the  geographic  limits  of  this  species,  as  it  occurs  to 
me,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  bird  seen  in  Greenland 
may  be  different  from  the  present,  as  it  scarcely  appears  to 
exist  north  beyond  the  States  of  Pennsylvania  or  New  York. 
They  are  seldom,  if  ever,  seen  or  heard  in  this  part  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  instead  of  being  more  abundant  to  the  north,  as 
believed  by  Wilson,  they  are  probably  not  known  there  at  all. 
In  the  Southern  States,  at  least  in  winter  and  spring,  they  are 
very  common,  and  present  all  the  usual  habits  and  notes  of  the 
genus.  The  numbers  which  I  saw  n  the  Southern  States  from 
January  to  March  would  seem  to  indicate  a  migratory  habit  ; 
but  whether  they  had  arrived  from  the  Northeast,  or  from  the 
great  forests  of  the  West,  could  not  be  conjectured. 

The  /5?/b,  as  I  may  call  this  bird  from  one  of  his  character- 
istic notes,  and  the  Carolina  Wren,  were  my  constant  and 
amusing  companions  during  the  winter  as  I  passed  through  the 
dreary  solitudes  of  the  Southern  States.  The  sprightliness, 
caprice,  and  varied  musical  talent  of  this  species  are  quite 
interesting,  and  more  peculiarly  so  when  nearly  all  the  other 
vocal  tenants  of  the  forest  are  either  absent  or  silent.     To 


hear  in  tl 
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TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 


143 


'i 


hear  in  the  middle  of  January,  when  at  least  the  leafless  trees 
and  dark  cloudy  skies  remind  us  of  the  coldest  season,  the 
lively,  cheering,  varied  pipe  of  this  active  and  hardy  bird,  is 
particularly  gratifying ;  and  though  his  voice  on  paper  may  ap- 
pear to  present  only  a  list  of  quaint  articulations,  yet  the  deli- 
cacy, energy,  pathos,  and  variety  of  his  simple  song,  like  many 
other  things  in  Nature,  are  far  beyond  the  feeble  power  of 
description ;  and  if  in  these  rude  graphic  outlines  of  the  inim- 
itable music  of  birds  I  am  able  to  draw  a  caricature  sufficient 
to  indicate  the  individual  performer,  I  shall  have  attained  all 
the  object  to  be  hoped  for  in  an  attempt  at  natural  delineation. 

The  notes  of  the  Peto  generally  partake  of  the  high,  echo- 
ing, clear  tone  of  the  Baltimore  Bird.  Among  his  more  extra- 
ordinary expressions  I  was  struck  with  the  call  of  'whip-iom- 
killy  ktlly,  and  now  and  then  ^whip  torn  ktlly,  with  occasionally 
some  variation  in  the  tone  and  expression,  which  was  very 
lively  and  agreeable.  The  middle  syllable  {tom)  was  pro- 
nounced in  a  hollow  reverberating  tone.  In  a  few  minutes 
after  the  subject  and  its  variations  were  finished,  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  musical  performer,  he  suddenly  twisted  himself 
round  the  branch  on  which  he  had  sat,  with  a  variety  of  odd 
and  fantastic  motions ;  and  then,  in  a  lower,  hoarser,  harsh 
voice,  and  in  a  peevish  tone,  exactly  like  that  of  the  Jay  and 
the  Chickadee,  went  day-day-day-d&y,  and  day-ddy-day-day- 
ddit ;  sometimes  this  loud  note  changed  into  one  which  be- 
came low  and  querulous.  On  some  of  these  occasions  he  also 
called  ^tshica  dee-dee.  The  jarring  call  would  then  change 
occasionally  into  kai-tee-did  did-dit-did.  These  peevish  notes 
would  often  be  uttered  in  anger  at  being  ap^jroached  ;  and 
then  again  would  perhaps  be  answered  by  some  neighboring 
rival,  against  whom  they  appeared  levelled  in  taunt  and  ridi- 
cule, being  accompanied  by  extiavagant  gestures. 

Later  in  the  season,  in  February,  when  in  the.  lower  part  of 
Alabama  the  mild  influence  of  spring  began  already  to  be  felt, 
our  favorite,  as  he  gayly  pursued  the  busy  tribe  of  insects,  now 
his  principal  food,  called,  as  he  vaulted  restlessly  from  branch 
to  branch,  in  an  echoing  rapid  voice,  at  short  intervals,  peto- 


144 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


petd-peto-pctd.  This  tender  call  of  recognition  was  at  length 
answered,  and  continued  at  intervals  for  a  minute  or  two ;  they 
then  changed  their  quick  call  into  a  ^g^^x  peto  petd  peid  ;  and 
now  the  natural  note  passed  into  the  plaintive  key,  sounding 
like  quc-ah  qtie-ah  ;  then  in  the  same  breath  a  jarring  note  like 
that  of  the  Catbird,  and  in  part  like  the  sound  made  by  put- 
ting the  lower  lip  to  the  upper  teeth,  and  calling  'tsh'  vah,  Ush' 
vah.  After  this  the  call  of  kerry-kerry-kerry-kerry  struck  up 
with  an  echoing  sound,  heightened  by  the  hollow  bank  of  the 
river  whence  it  proceeded.  At  length,  more  delicately  than  at 
first,  in  an  under  tone,  you  hear  anew,  and  in  a  tender  accent, 
peto  peto  peto.  In  the  caprice  and  humor  of  our  performer, 
tied  by  no  rules  but  those  of  momentary  feeling,  the  expression 
will  perhaps  change  into  a  slow  and  {wW  peet-peei-a-peei-a-peet, 
then  a  low  and  very  rapid  ker-ker-ker-ker-ker-kerry^  sometimes 
so  quick  as  almost  to  resemble  the  rattle  of  a  watchman.  At 
another  time  his  morning  song  commences  like  the  gentle 
whispers  of  an  aerial  spirit,  and  then  becoming  high  and  clear 
like  the  voice  of  the  nightingale,  he  cries  keeva  keeva  kieva 
keeva  ;  but  soon  falling  into  the  quc*rulous,  the  day-day-day-day- 
d^y-daitoi  the  Chickadee  terminates  his  performance  Imita- 
tive, as  well  as  inventive,  I  have  heard  the  Peto  also  sing 
so'.nething  like  the  lively  chatter  of  the  Swallow,  leta-lcta-kta- 
letaiit,  and  then  vary  into  peto-peto-peto-peio-peto  extremely 
quick.  Unlike  the  warblers,  our  cheerful  Peto  has  no  trill,  or 
any  other  notes  than  these  simple,  playful,  or  pathetic  calls ; 
yet  the  compass  of  voice  and  the  tone  in  which  they  are 
uttered,  their  capricious  variety  and  their  general  effect,  at  the 
season  cf  the  year  when  they  are  heard,  are  quite  as  pleasing 
to  the  contemplative  observer  as  the  more  exquisite  notes  of 
the  summer  songsters  of  the  verdant  forest. 

The  sound  of  ^whip-tom-kclly,  which  I  heard  this  bird  utter, 
on  the  17th  of  January,  1830,  near  Barnwell,  in  South  Carolina, 
is  very  remarkable,  and  leads  m2  to  suppose  that  the  species  is 
also  an  inhabitant  of  the  West  India  Islands,  where  Sloane 
attributes  this  note  to  the  Red-eyed  Flycatcher ;  but  it  is  now 
known  to  be  the  note  of  a  tropical  species,  the  vireo  longiros- 


TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 


145 


tris,  and  which  our  bird  had  probably  heard  and  mimicked  in  its 
distant  dime. 

The  Peto,  besides  insects,  like  the  Jay,  to  which  he  is  allied, 
chops  up  acorns,  cracks  nuts  and  hard  and  shelly  seeds  to  get 
at  their  contents,  holding  them  meanwhile  in  his  feet.  He 
also  searches  and  pecks  decayed  trees  and  their  bark  with  con- 
siderable energy  and  industry  in  quest  of  larvae ;  he  often  also 
enters  into  hollow  trunks,  prying  ?fter  the  same  objects.  In 
these  holes  they  commonly  roost  in  winter,  and  occupy  the 
same  secure  situations,  or  the  holes  of  the  small  Woodpecker, 
for  depositing  and  hatching  their  eggs,  which  takes  place  early 
in  April  or  in  May,  according  to  the  different  parts  of  the 
Union  they  happen  to  inhabit.  Sometimes  they  dig  out  a 
cavity  for  themselves  with  much  labor,  and  always  line  the 
hollow  with  a  variety  of  warm  materials.  Their  eggs,  about  six 
to  eight,  are  white  with  a  few  small  specks  of  brownish  red  near 
the  larger  end.  The  whole  family,  young  and  old,  may  be  seen 
hunting  together  throughout  ♦:he  summer  and  winter,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  continued  mutual  chatter. 

According  to  the  observations  of  Wilson  it  sooi.  becomes 
familiar  in  confinement,  and  readily  makes  its  way  out  of  a 
wicker  cage  by  repeated  blows  at  the  twigs.  It  may  be  fed 
on  hemp-seed,  cherry-stones,  apple- pippins,  and  hickory  nuts, 
broken  and  thrown  in  to  it.  In  its  natural  state,  like  the  rest 
of  its  vicious  congeners,  it  sometimes  destroys  small  birds  by 
blows  on  the  skull. 

This  species  belongs  tc  the  Carolinian  faunal  area,  and  occurs 
regularly  only  from  about  the  40th  parallel  southward;  north  of 
that  it  is  but  an  accidental  straggler. 


VOL,  I.  —  10 


llrlHj  Al^- 


If 


146 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


CHICKADEE. 
Parus  atricapillus. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  ;  below,  grayish  white  ;  flanks  buffy ;  crown 
and  throat  black ;  cheek  white.    Length  4^  to  $X  inches. 

Ni's/.  In  a  cavity  made  in  a  decayed  stump,  entering  from  the  top  or 
side ;  composed  of  wool  or  inner  fur  of  small  mammals  firmly  and 
compactly  felted.  Sometimes  moss  and  hair  are  used,  and  a  lining  of 
feathers. 

■^iST-^-    S"8 ;  white  speckled  with  reddish  brown ,  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  familiar,  hardy,  and  restless  little  bird  chiefly  inhabits 
the  Northern  and  Middle  States  as  well  as  Canada,  in  which  it 
is  even  resident  in  winter  around  Hudson's  Bay,  and  has  been 
met  with  at  62°  on  the  northwest  coast.  In  all  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,  during  autumn  and  winter,  families  of  these 
birds  are  seen  chattering  and  roving  through  the  woods,  busily 
engaged  in  gleaning  their  multifarious  food,  along  with  Nut- 
hatches and  Creepers,  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  active,  and 
noisy  group,  whose  manners,  food,  and  habits  bring  them 
together  in  a  common  pursuit.  Their  diet  varies  with  the 
season  ;  for  besides  insects,  their  larvae  and  eggs,  of  which  they 
are  more  particularly  fond,  in  the  month  of  September  they 
leave  the  woods  and  assemble  familiarly  in  our  orchards  and 
gardens,  and  even  enter  the  thronging  cities  in  quest  of  that 
support  which  their  native  forests  now  deny  them.  Large 
seeds  of  many  kinds,  particularly  those  which  are  oily,  as  the 
sunflower  and  pine  and  spruce  kernels,  are  now  sought  after. 
These  seeds,  in  the  usual  manner  of  the  genus,  are  seized  n 
the  claws  and  held  against  the  branch  until  picked  open  by  the 
bill  to  obtain  their  contents.  Fat  of  various  kinds  is  also 
greedily  eaten,  and  they  regularly  watch  the  retreat  of  the  hog- 
killers  in  the  country,  to  glean  up  the  fragments  of  meat  which 
adhere  to  the  places  where  the  carcases  have  been  suspended. 
At  times  they  feed  upon  the  wax  of  the  candle-berry  myrtle 
{Myrica  ceriferd)  ;  they  likewise  pick  up  crumbs  near  the  houses, 
and  search  the  weather-boards,  and  even  the  window-sills, 


CHICKADEE. 


147 


familiarly  for  their  lurking  prey,  .id  are  particularly  fond  of 
spiders  and  the  eggs  of  destructive  moths,  especially  those  of 
the  canker-worm,  which  they  greedily  destroy  in  ah  its  stages 
of  existence.  It  is  said  that  they  sometimes  attack  their  own 
species  when  the  individual  is  sickly,  and  aim  their  blows  at 
the  skull  with  a  v  iew  to  eat  the  brain ;  but  this  barbarity  I  have 
never  witnessed.  In  winter,  when  satisfied,  they  will  descend 
to  the  snow-bank  beneath  and  quench  their  thirst  by  swallow- 
ing small  pieces ;  in  tiiis  way  their  various  and  frugal  meal  is 
always  easily  supplied ;  and  hardy,  and  warmly  clad  in  light 
and  very  downy  feathers,  they  suffer  little  inconvenience  from 
the  inclemency  of  the  seasons.  Indeed  in  the  winter,  or  about 
the  close  of  October,  they  at  times  appear  so  enlivened  as 
already  to  show  their  amorous  attachment,  like  our  domestic 
cock,  the  male  approaching  his  mate  with  fluttering  and  vibra- 
ting wings ;  and  in  the  spring  season,  the  males  have  obstinate 
engagements,  darting  after  each  other  with  great  velocity  and 
anger.  Their  roost  is  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  where 
they  also  breed,  making  a  soft  nest  of  moss,  hair,  and  feathers, 
and  laying  from  six  to  twelve  eggs,  which  are  white,  with 
specks  of  brown-red.  They  begin  to  lay  about  the  middle  or 
close  of  April ;  and  though  they  commonly  make  use  of  natural 
or  deserted  holes  of  the  Woodpecker,  yet  at  times  they  are 
said  to  excavate  a  cavity  for  themselves  with  much  labor.  The 
first  brood  take  wing  about  the  7th  or  loth  of  June,  and  they 
have  sometimes  a  second  towards  the  end  of  July.  The  young, 
as  soon  as  fledged,  have  all  the  external  marks  of  the  adult,  — 
the  head  is  equally  black,  and  they  chatter  and  skip  about 
with  all  the  agility  and  self-possession  of  their  parents,  who 
appear  nevertheless  very  solicitous  for  their  safety.  From  this 
time  the  whole  family  continue  to  associate  together  through 
the  autumn  and  winter.  They  seem  to  move  by  concert  from 
tree  to  tree,  keeping  up  a  continued  ^tshe-de-de-de-de,  and  ^tshe- 
de-de~de-dait,  preceded  by  a  shrill  whistle,  all  the  while  busily 
engaged  picking  round  the  buds  and  branches  hanging  from 
their  extremities  and  proceeding  often  in  reversed  postures, 
head  downwards,  like  so  many  tumblers,  prying  into  every 


^J 


148 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


crevice  of  the  bark,  and  searching  around  the  roots  and  in 
every  possible  retreat  of  their  insect  prey  or  its  larvae.  If  the 
object  chance  to  fall,  they  industriously  descend  to  the  ground 
and  glean  it  up  with  the  utmost  economy. 

On  seeing  a  cat  or  other  object  of  natural  antipathy,  the 
Chickadee,  like  the  peevish  Jay,  scolds  in  a  loud,  angry,  and 
hoarse  note,  like  Ushe  Migh  ddigh  lidigh.  Among  the  other 
notes  of  this  species  I  have  heard  a  call  like  tshe-de-jay,  tshe- 
de-jay,  the  two  first  syllables  being  a  slende/  chirp,  with  theyV/y 
strongly  pronounced.  Almost  the  only  note  of  this  bird  which 
may  be  called  a  song  is  one  which  is  fre<iuently  heard  at  inter- 
vals in  the  depth  of  the  forest,  at  times  of  the  day  usually  when 
all  other  birds  are  silent.  We  then  may  sometimes  hear  in  the 
midst  of  this  solitude  two  feeble,  drawling,  clearly  whistled,  and 
rather  melancholy  notes,  like  'fe-derry,  and  sometimes  ^ye- 
perrit,  and  occasionally,  but  much  more  rarely,  in  the  same 
wiry,  whistling,  solemn  tone,  'p'ehbk.  The  young,  in  winter,  also 
sometimes  drawl  out  these  contemplative  strains.  In  all  cases 
the  first  syllable  is  very  high  and  clear,  the  second  word  drops 
low  and  ends  like  a  feeble  plaint.  This  is  nearly  all  the  quaint 
song  ever  attempted  by  the  Chickadee,  and  is  perhaps  the  two 
notes  sounding  like  the  whetting  of  a  saw,  remarked  of  the 
Marsh  Titmouse  in  England  by  Mr.  White,  in  his  "  Natural 
History  of  Selbome."  On  fine  days,  about  the  commencement 
of  October,  I  have  heard  the  Chickadee  sometimes  for  half  an 
hour  at  a  time  attempt  a  lively,  petulant  warble  very  different 
from  his  ordinary  notes.  On  these  occasions  he  appears  to 
flit  about,  still  hunting  for  his  prey,  but  almost  in  an  ecstasy  of 
delight  and  vigor.  But  after  a  while  the  usual  drawling  note 
again  occurs.  These  birds,  like  many  others,  are  very  subject 
to  the  attacks  of  vennin,  and  they  accumulate  in  great  numbers 
around  that  part  of  the  head  and  front  which  is  least  accessible 
to  their  feet. 

The  European  bird,  so  very  similar  to  ours,  is  partial  to 
marshy  situations.  Ours  has  no  such  predilection,  nor  do  the 
American  ones,  that  I  can  learn,  ever  lay  up  or  hide  any  store 
of  seeds  for  provision,  —  a  habit  reported  of  the  foreign  family. 


CHICKADEE. 


149 


In  this  fact,  with  so  many  others,  we  have  an  additional  evi- 
dence of  affinity  between  the  Titmouse  and  Jay,  particularly 
that  short-billed  section  which  includes  the  Garrulus  cana- 
i/insis  and  G.  infaustus.  Even  the  blue  color,  so  common 
with  the  latter,  is  possessed  by  several  species  of  this  genus. 
Indeed,  from  their  aggregate  relation  and  omnivorous  habit 
we  see  no  better  place  of  arrangement  for  these  birds  than 
succinctly  after  the  Garmli,  or  Jays. 

Following  the  authority  of  Temminck  and  Montagu,  I  con- 
sidered this  bird  the  same  as  the  European  Marsh  Titmouse. 
1  have  since  seen  the  bird  of  Europe  in  its  native  country,  and 
have  good  reason  to  believe  it  wholly  different  from  our  lively 
and  familiar  Chickadee.  Unlike  our  bird,  it  is  rather  shy,  seldom 
seen  but  in  pairs  or  solitary,  never  in  domestic  premises,  usu- 
ally and  almost  constantly  near  streams  or  watercourses,  on 
the  willows,  alders,  or  other  small  trees  impending  over 
streams,  and  utters  now  and  then  a  feeble  complaining  or 
querulous  call,  and  rarely  if  ever  the  chicka  dee-dee.  It  also 
makes  a  noise  in  the  spring,  as  it  is  said,  like  the  whetting  of  a 
saw,  which  ours  never  does.  The  Chickadee  is  seldom  seen 
near  waters ;  often,  even  in  summer,  in  dry,  shady,  ind  se- 
cluded woods;  but  when  the  weather  becomes  cold,  and  as 
early  as  October,  roving  families,  pressed  by  necessity  and  the 
failure  of  their  ordinary  insect  fare,  now  begin  to  frequent 
orchards  and  gardens,  appearing  extremely  familiar,  hungry, 
indigent,  but  industrious,  prying  with  restless  anxiety  into  every 
cranny  of  the  bark  or  holes  in  decayed  trees  after  dormant  in- 
sects, spiders,  and  larvae,  descending  with  the  strictest  economy 
to  the  ground  in  quest  of  every  stray  morsel  of  provision  which 
happens  to  fall  from  their  grasp.  Their  quaint  notes  and  jing- 
ling warble  are  heard  even  in  winter  on  fine  days  when  the 
weather  relaxes  in  its  severity ;  and,  in  short,  instead  of  being 
the  river  hermit  of  its  European  analogue,  it  adds  by  its 
presence,  indomitable  action  and  chatter,  an  air  of  cheerful- 
ness to  the  silent  and  dreary  winters  of  the  coldest  parts  of 
America. 


ISO 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


M 


CAROLINA  CHICKADEE. 

Parus  carounensis. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray  tinged  with  dull  brown;  head  and  throat 
black ;  cheek  white ;  beneath,  brownish  white ;  flanks  buflish.  Length 
4%  to  4^  inches. 

jVcst.  In  a  cavity  of  decayed  stump,  composed  of  grass  or  shreds  of 
bark,  and  lined  with  feathers.  Sometimes  composed  entirely  o2  tar  or 
fine  wool  felted  compactly. 

^^S"^'    S-8 ;  white  often  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  species,  detected  by  Mr.  Audubon,  is  a  constant  inhab- 
itant of  the  Southern  and  Middle  States  from  the  borders  of 
New  Jersey  to  East  Florida.  It  h^s  a  predilection  fci  the 
borders  of  ponds,  marshes,  and  swamps,  and  less  gregarious 
than  the  preceding,  seldom  more  tiian  a  pair  or  family  are 
seen  together.  It  is  also  shy  and  rei.iring ;  inhabiting  at  all 
times  a  mild  and  genial  clime,  it  never  seeks  out  domestic 
premises,  nor  even  the  waysides,  but,  like  the  European  Marsh 
Titmouse,  it  remains  throughout  the  year  in  the  tangled  woods 
and  swamps  which  gave  it  birth.  In  the  wilds  of  Oregon  late 
in  autumn  we  frequently  saw  small  roving  restless  flocks  of 
these  birds  ass.ociated  often  with  the  Chestnut-Backed  species. 
At  such  times  both  parties  were  querulous  and  noisy ;  but  the 
/s/ie  te  de  de  is  comparatively  feeble,  uttered  in  a  slender,  wiry 
tone.  At  such  times  intently  gleaning  for  insects,  they  show  very 
little  fear,  but  a  good  deal  of  sympathy  for  their  wounded  com- 
panions, remaining  round  them  and  scolding  in  a  petulant  and 
plaintive  tone.  At  the  approach  of  winter  those  in  the  Atlan- 
tic region  retire  farther  to  the  south,  and  on  the  Pacific  border 
they  are  to  be  seen  in  winter  in  the  woods  of  Upper  California ; 
but  in  no  instance  did  we  se;  them  approach  the  vicinity  of 
the  trading  posts  or  the  gardens. 

A  nest  of  this  species  discovered  by  Dr.  Bachman  was  in  a 
hollovs  stump  about  four  feet  from  the  ground ;  it  was  rather 
shallow,  composed  of  iine  wool,  cotton,  and  some  fibres  of 
plants,  the  whole  fitted  together  so  as  to  be  of  an  uniform 
thickness  throughout,  and  contained  pure  white  eggs. 


Ci 

belo^ 

5  tol 

m 

top. 
on  X\ 
shapd 

large{ 


HUDSONIAN   CHICKADEE.  151 


HUDSONIAN   CHICKADEE. 
Parus  hudsonicus. 

Char.    Above,   pale   dull   brown,  darker  on  crown;  cheeks  white; 
below,  grayish  white;    flanks  rusty;   thruat  brownish  black.     Length 

5  to  5¥- 
Nest.     In  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  stunnip,  usually  entering  from  the 

top.  Or  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  is  placed  a  platform  of  dried  muss,  and 
on  this  another  of  felted  fur,  and  upon  this  latter  is  set  the  graceful  pouch- 
shaped  nest  of  firm  felt,  made  of  the  inner  fur  of  small  mammals. 

£^gS^-    6-10 ;  creamy  white  with  brown  spots  in  a  circle  around  the 
larger  end  ;  0.58  X  0.58. 

This  more  than  usually  hardy  species  continues  the  whole 
year  about  Severn  River,  braving  the  inclemency  of  the  winters, 
and  frequents  the  juniper-bushes  on  the  buds  of  which  it  feeds. 
In  winter,  like  the  common  species,  it  is  seen  roving  about 
in  small  flocks,  busily  foraging  from  tree  to  tree.  It  is  said  to 
lay  five  eggs.  Mr.  Audubon  met  with  it  on  the  coast  of  Lab- 
rador, where  it  was  breeding,  about  the  middle  of  July.  He 
describes  the  nest  as  being  placed  at  the  height  of  not  more 
than  three  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  hollow  of  a  decayed 
low  stump  scarcely  thicker  than  a  man's  leg,  the  whole  so 
rotten  that  it  crumbled  to  pieces  on  being  touched.  It  was 
shaped  like  a  purse,  eight  inches  in  depth,  two  in  diameter  in- 
side, its  sides  about  a  half  an  inch  thick.  It  was  composed  of 
the  finest  fur  of  different  quadrupeds,  so  thickly  matted  through- 
out that  it  looked  as  if  it  had  been  felted  by  the  hand  of  man. 
On  the  nest  being  assailed,  the  male  flew  at  the  intruder,  utter- 
ing an  angry  te-te-te-tee. 

The  Hudson  Bay  Chicl:adee  is  fairly  common  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces,  though  more  abundant  in  winter  than  in  summer.  It 
has  been  found  breeding,  also,  in  the  northern  parts  of  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  New  York,  and  Michigan,  and  in  the  Muskoka  districts 
of  Ontario.  Mr.  Walter  Faxon  considers  it  a  rare  though  regxilar 
migrant  to  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  but  thinks  it  occurs 
in  numbers  in  winter  amid  the  Berkshire  hills. 

One  example  has  been  taken  in  Connecticut,  and  one  in  Rhode 
Island. 


i 


152 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


BOHEMIAN   WAXWING. 

Ampelis  garrulus. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  brown  or  fawn  color,  darker  on 
front  head  and  cheeks,  changing  to  ashy  on  rump ;  chin  and  line  across 
forehead  and  through  the  eyes,  rich  black;  wings  and  tail  slaty;  tail 
tipped  with  yellow  ;  primaries  tipped  with  white,  secondaries  with  appen- 
dages like  red  sealing-wax.  Head  with  long  pointed  crest.  Length  jYi 
to  8^  inches.  Easily  distinguished  from  the  Cedar  Bird  by  its  larger  size 
and  darker  color. 

iVest.  In  a  tree,  a  bulky  structure  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with 
feathers. 

J^ggs.    3-5;  bluish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ;  i.oo  X  0.70. 

The  Waxwing,  of  which  stragglers  are  occasionally  seen  in 
Nova  Scotia,  Massachusetts,  Long  Island,  and  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia,  first  observed  in  America  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Athabasca  River,  near  the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in 
the  month  of  March,  is  of  common  occurrence  as  a  passenger 
throughout  the  colder  regions  of  the  whole  northern  hemi- 
sphere. Like  our  Cedar  Birds,  they  associate  in  numerous 
flocks,  pairing  only  for  the  breeding  season ;  after  which  the 
young  and  old  give  way  to  their  gregarious  habits,  and  collec- 
ting in  numerous  companies,  they  perform  extensive  journeys, 
and  are  extremely  remarkable  for  their  great  and  irregular 
wanderings.  The  circumstances  of  incubation  in  this  species 
are  wholly  unknown.  It  is  supposed  that  they  retire  to  the 
remote  regions  to  breed  ;  yet  in  Norway  they  are  only  birds  of 
passage,  and  it  has  been  conjectured  that  they  pass  the  sum- 
mer in  the  elevated  table-land  of  Central  Asia.  Wherever  they 
dwell  at  this  season,  it  is  certain  that  in  spring  and  late  autumn 
they  visit  northern  Asia  or  Siberia  and  eastern  Europe  in  vast 
numbers,  but  are  elsewhere  only  uncertain  stragglers,  whose  ap- 
pearance, at  different  times,  has  been  looked  upon  as  ominous 
of  some  disaster  by  the  credulous  and  ignorant. 

The  Waxen  Chatterers,  like  our  common  Cedar  Birds,  ap- 
pear destitute  of  song,  and  only  lisp  to  each  other  their  usual 
low,  reiterated  call  of  zi  z/  re,  which  becomes  more  audible 


BOHEMIAN  WAXWING. 


153 


when  they  are  disturbed  and  as  they  take  to  wing.  They  are 
also  very  sociable  and  affectionate  to  their  whole  fraternity, 
and  sit  in  rows  often  on  the  same  branch,  when  not  employed 
in  collecting  their  food,  which  is  said  to  consist  of  juicy  fruits 
of  various  kinds,  particularly  grapes ;  they  will  also  eat  juniper 
and  laurel  berries,  as  well  as  apples,  currants,  and  figs,  and  are 
often  seen  to  drink. 

Dr.  Richardson  informs  us  that  this  bird  appears  in  flocks  at 
Grept  Bear  Lake  about  the  24th  of  May,  when  they  feed  on 
the  berries  of  the  alpine  arbutus,  marsh  vaccinium,  and  other 
kinds  exposed  again  to  the  surface  after  the  spring  thaw. 
Another  flock  of  three  or  four  hundred  individuals  was  seen  on 
the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan,  at  Carlton  House,  early  in  the 
same  month.  In  their  usual  manner  they  all  settled  together 
on  one  or  two  trees,  and  remained  together  about  the  same 
place  for  an  hour  in  the  morning,  making  a  loud  twittering 
noise,  and  were  too  shy  to  be  approached  within  gunshot. 
Their  stay  at  most  did  not  exceed  a  few  days,  and  none  of  the 
Indians  knew  of  their  nests ;  though  the  doctor  had  reason  to 
believe  that  they  retired  in  the  breeding  season  to  the  broken 
and  desolate  mountain-limestone  districts  in  the  67th  or  68th 
parallels,  where  they  find  means  to  feed  on  the  fruit  of  the 
common  juniper,  so  abundant  in  that  quarter.  Neither  Mr. 
Townsend  nor  myself  observed  this  bird  either  in  the  Columbia 
River  district  or  on  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  Bohemian  is  still  a  rover  of  uncertain  and  irregular  habits, 
occasionally  in  winter  appearing  along  the  northern  border  of  the 
United  States  and  through  the  settled  portions  of  Canada  in  large 
flocks,  but  sometimes  absent  for  several  seasons.  Colonel  Goss 
found  a  nest  in  Labrador,  and  several  have  been  taken  in  the 
Northwest. 


154  SINGING  BIRDS. 

CEDAR   WAXWING. 

CEDAR   BIRD.    CHERRY   BIRD. 
Ampeus  CEDRORUM. 

Char.  Prevailing  color  cinnamon  brown  or  fawn  color,  changing  to 
ashy  un  rump ;  chin  and  line  across  forehead  and  through  eyes,  rich  black ; 
wings  and  tail  slaty;  tail  tipped  with  yellow;  secondaries  sometimes  with 
red,  wax-like  appendages.  Head  with  long,  pointed  crest.  Length  6}^ 
to  7>4  inches. 

JVesi.  In  a  tree ;  large  and  loosely  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with 
grass,  hair,  or  feathers. 

££g's.    3-5 ;  bluish  white  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown ;  0.85  X  0.60. 

This  common  native  wanderer,  which  in  summer  extends  its 
migrations  to  the  remotest  unpeopled  regions  of  Canada,  is 
also  found  throughout  the  American  continent  to  Mexico,  and 
parties  even  roam  to  the  tropical  forests  of  Cayenne.  In  all  this 
extensive  geographical  range,  where  great  elevation  or  latitude 
tempers  the  climate  so  as  to  be  favorable  to  the  production 
of  juicy  fruits,  the  Cedar  Bird  will  probably  be  found  either 
almost  wholly  to  reside,  or  to  pass  the  season  of  reproduction. 
Like  its  European  representative  (the  Waxen  Chatterer),  it  is 
capable  of  braving  a  consider.ble  degree  of  cold  ;  for  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey  somt  of  these  birds  are  seen  through- 
cut  the  winter,  where,  as  well  as  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  and  fall,  they  are  killed  and  brought  to  market,  gen- 
erally fat,  and  much  esteemed  as  food.  Silky  softness  of 
plumage,  gentleness  of  disposition,  innocence  of  character, 
extreme  sociability,  and  an  innate,  inextinguishable  love  of 
freedom,  accompanied  by  a  constant  desire  of  wandering,  are 
characteristic  traits  in  the  physical  and  moral  portrait  of  the 
second  as  well  as  the  preceding  species  of  this  peculiar  and 
extraordinary  genus. 

Leaving  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  situated  beyond 
the  40th  degree,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  assemble 
in  companies  of  twenty  to  a  hundred,  and  wander  through  the 
Southern  States  and  Mexico  to  the  confines  of  the  equator,  in 


all  of  whi 
dant.    As 
and  often 
in  flocks 
As  the  m 
food,  they 
the  begin 
fruits,  the 
pay  the  g 
they  fail  i 
mies  whic 
various  ir 
at  a  time 
worms  wl 
casions,  i 
dressing  1 
the  numb 
ment  api 
and  caret 
which,  h( 
Raven,  t 
different 
demonsti 
would  ki 
bird  scar 
they  are 
incubati( 
of  sexua 
an  eye-1 
these  bii 
it  to  his 
it  to  the 
has  pro 
priated. 
sociabil 
tion  wi 
cause  1 


CEDAR  WAXWING. 


155 


all  of  which  countries  they  are  now  either  common  or  abun- 
dant. As  observed  by  Audubon,  their  flight  is  easy,  continued, 
and  often  performed  at  a  considerable  height ;  and  they  move 
in  flocks  or  companies,  making  several  turns  before  they  alight. 
As  the  mildness  of  spring  returns,  and  with  it  their  favorite 
food,  they  reappear  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States  about 
the  beginning  of  April,  before  the  ripening  of  their  favorite 
fruits,  the  cherries  and  mulberries.  But  at  this  season,  to  re- 
pay the  gardener  for  the  tithe  of  his  crop,  their  natural  due, 
they  fail  not  to  assist  in  ridding  his  trees  of  more  deadly  ene- 
mies which  infest  them,  and  the  small  caterpillars,  beetles,  and 
various  insects  now  constitute  their  only  food ;  and  for  hours 
at  a  time  they  may  be  seen  feeding  on  the  all-despoiling  canker- 
worms  which  infest  our  apple-trees  and  elms.  On  these  oc- 
casions, silent  and  sedate,  after  plentifully  feeding,  they  sit 
dressing  their  feathers  in  near  contact  on  the  same  branch  to 
the  number  of  5  or  6 ;  and  as  the  season  of  selective  attach- 
ment approaches,  they  may  be  observed  nluming  each  other, 
and  caressing  with  the  most  gentle  fondness,  —  a  playfulness  in 
which,  however,  they  are  even  surpassed  by  the  contemned 
Raven,  to  which  social  and  friendly  family  our  Cedar  Bird, 
different  as  he  looks,  has  many  traits  of  alliance.  But  these 
demonstrations  of  attachment,  which  in  a  more  vigorous  kind 
would  kindle  the  feud  of  jealousy,  apparently  produce  in  this 
bird  scarcely  any  diminution  of  the  general  social  tie ;  and  as 
they  are  gregarious  to  so  late  a  period  of  the  inviting  season  of 
incubation,  this  affection  has  been  supposed  to  be  independent 
of  sexual  distinction.  This  friendly  trait  is  carried  so  far  that 
an  eye-witness  assures  me  he  has  seen  one  among  a  row  of 
these  birds  seated  upon  a  branch  dart  after  an  insect,  and  offer 
it  to  his  associate  when  caught,  who  very  disinterestedly  passed 
it  to  the  next,  and  each  delicately  declining  the  offer,  the  morsel 
has  proceeded  backwards  and  forwards  before  it  was  appro- 
priated. Whatever  may  be  the  fact,  as  it  regards  this  peculiar 
sociability,  it  frequently  facilitates  the  means  of  their  destruc- 
tion with  the  thoughtless  and  rapacious  sportsman,  who,  be- 
cause many  of  these  unfortunate  birds  can  be  killed  in  an 


^r 


MnnMn* 


156 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


instant,  sitting  in  the  same  range,  thinks  the  exercise  of  the  gun 
must  be  credited  only  by  the  havoc  which  it  produces  against 
a  friendly,  useful,  and  innocent  visitor. 

Towards  the  close  of  May  or  beginning  of  June  the  Cherry 
Birds,  now  paired,  commence  forming  the  cradle  of  their  young ; 
yet  still  so  sociable  are  they  that  several  nesis  may  be  observed 
in  the  same  vicinity.  The  materials  and  trees  chosen  for  their 
labors  are  various,  as  well  as  the  general  markings  of  their  eggs. 
Two  nests,  in  the  Botanic  Garden  at  Cambridge,  were  formed 
in  small  hemlock-trees,  at  the  distance  of  1 6  or  1 8  feet  from 
the  ground,  in  the  forks  of  the  main  branches.  One  of  these 
was  composed  of  dry,  coarse  grass,  interwoven  r>vjghly  with  a 
considerable  quantity  of  dead  hemlock  sprigs,  further  con- 
nected by  a  small  quantity  of  silk-weed  lint,  and  lined  with 
a  few  strips  of  thin  grape-vine  bark,  and  dry  leaves  of  the 
silver  fir.  In  the  second  nest  the  lining  was  merely  fine  root- 
fibres.  On  the  4th  of  June  this  nest  contained  2  eggs,  —  the 
whole  number  is  generally  about  4  or  5  ;  these  are  of  the  usual 
form  (not  remarkable  for  any  disproportion  of  the  two  ends),  of 
a  pale  clay  white,  inclining  to  olive,  with  a  few  well-defined 
black  or  deep  umber  spots  at  the  great  end,  and  with  others 
seen,  as  it  were,  beneath  the  surface  of  the  shell.  Two  or 
three  other  nests  were  made  in  the  apple-trees  of  an  adjoining 
orchard,  one  in  a  place  of  difficult  access,  the  othei  on  a  de- 
pending branch  easily  reached  by  the  hand.  These  were 
securely  fixed  horizontally  among  the  ascending  twigs,  and  were 
formed  externally  of  a  mass  of  dry,  wiry  weeds,  the  materials 
being  firmly  held  together  by  a  large  quantity  of  cudweed 
down,  in  some  places  softened  v/ith  glutinous  saliva  so  as  to 
be  formed  into  coarse,  connecting  shreds.  The  round  edge  of 
the  nest  was  made  of  coils  of  the  wiry  stolons  of  a  common 
Cinquefoil  then  lined  with  exceedingly  fine  root-fibres;  over 
the  whole,  to  give  elasticity,  were  laid  fine  stalks  of  a  slender 
Juncus,  or  minute  rush.  In  these  nests  the  eggs  were,  as  de- 
scribed by  Wilson  (except  as  to  form),  marked  with  smaller 
and  more  numerous  spots  than  the  preceding.  From  the  late- 
ness of  the  autumn,  at  which  period  incubation  is  still  going 


on,  it  v/o 
have  at  1 
of  Septe 
The  peri 
young  ar 
the  parei 
those  wh 
still,  they 
result,  an 
pears, 
caterpilla 
like  the 
such  as 
ries,  etc. 
hemlock, 
some  me; 
however, 
and  was  1 
cherries  ; 
mate  in  t 
his  natuK 
feathers  ^ 
ages,  sho^ 
or  sex;  i 
during  th 
impatient 
self  to  tl 
often  fed. 
and  the  0 
I  now  su( 
descend  e 
food ;  bu 
and  appe 
came  sek 
of  tze  tze  i 
When  yoi 
and  te-dii 


CEDAR  W.\XWING. 


157 


on,  it  v/ould  appear  that  this  species  is  very  prolific,  and  must 
have  at  least  two  hatches  in  the  season ;  for  as  late  as  the  7th 
of  September  a  brood,  in  this  vicinity,  were  yet  in  the  nest. 
The  period  of  sitting  is  about  15  or  16  days;  and  while  the 
young  are  still  helpless,  it  is  surprising  to  witness  the  silence  of 
the  parents,  uttering  no  cries,  nor  making  any  approaches  to 
those  who  may  endanger  or  jeopard  the  safety  of  their  brood  ; 
still,  they  are  flying  round,  and  silently  watching  the  dreaded 
result,  and  approach  the  nest  the  moment  the  intruder  disap- 
pears. They  feed  the  young,  at  t.rst,  with  insects  and  smooth 
caterpillars ;  but  at  the  end  of  the  3d  or  4th  day  they  are  fed, 
like  the  old  ones,  almost  exclusively  on  sweet  and  juicy  fruits, 
such  as  whortle  and  service  berries,  wild  and  cultivated  cher- 
ries, etc.  A  young  bird  from  one  of  the  nests  described,  in  the 
hemlock,  was  thrown  upon  my  protection,  having  been  by 
some  means  ejected  from  his  cradle.  In  this  critical  situation, 
however,  he  had  been  well  fed,  or  rather  gorged,  with  berries, 
and  was  merely  scratched  by  the  fall  he  had  received.  Fed  on 
cherries  and  mulberries,  he  was  soon  well  fledged,  while  his 
mate  in  the  nest  was  suffered  to  perish  by  the  forgetfulness  of 
his  natural  protectors.  Coeval  with  the  growth  of  his  wing- 
feathers  were  already  seen  the  remarkable  red  waxen  append- 
ages, showing  that  their  appearance  indicates  no  particular  age 
or  sex;  many  birds,  in  fact,  being  without  these  ornaments 
during  their  whole  lives.  I  soon  found  my  interesting  protege 
impatient  of  the  cage  and  extremely  voracious,  gorging  him- 
self to  the  very  mouth  with  the  soft  fmits  on  which  he  was 
often  fed.  The  throat,  in  fact,  like  a  craw,  admits  of  distention, 
and  the  contents  are  only  gradually  passed  off*  into  the  stomach. 
I  now  suffered  the  bird  to  fly  at  large,  and  for  several  days  he 
descended  from  the  trees,  in  which  he  perched,  to  my  arm  for 
food ;  but  the  moment  he  was  satisfied,  he  avoided  the  cage, 
and  appeared  unable  to  sui-vive  the  loss  of  liberty.  He  new 
came  seldomer  to  me,  and  finally  joined  the  lisping  muster-cry 
of  tze  tze  tze,  and  was  enticed  away  by  more  attractive  associates. 
When  young,  nature  provided  i  im  with  a  loud,  impatient  voice, 
and  te-didf  U-did,  kai-tcdtd  (often  also  the  clamorous  cry  of 


158 


SINGIN';  BIRDS. 


the  young  Baltimore),  was  his  deafening  and  almost  incessant 
call  for  food.  Another  young  bird  of  the  first  brood,  probably 
neglected,  cried  so  loud  and  plaintively  to  a  male  Baltimore 
Bird  in  the  same  tree  that  he  coL^m;-nced  feeding  it.  Mr. 
Winship,  of  Brighton,  informs  me  that  one  of  the  young  Cedar 
Birds,  who  frequented  the  front  of  his  house  in  quest  of  honey- 
suckle berries,  at  length,  on  receiving  food  (probably  also 
abandoned  by  his  roving  parents),  threw  himself  wholly  on  his 
protection.  At  large  day  and  night,  he  still  regularly  attended 
the  dessert  of  the  dinner-table  for  his  portion  of  fruit,  and  re- 
mained steadfast  in  his  attachment  to  Mr.  W.  till  killed  hy  an 
accident,  being  unfortunately  trodden  under  foot. 

Though  harmless,  exceedingly  gentle  and  artless,  they  make 
some  show  of  defence  when  attacked ;  as  a  second  bird  which 
I  brought  up,  destitute  of  the  red  appendages  on  the  wings, 
when  threatened  elevated  his  crest,  looked  angry,  and  repeat- 
edly snapped  with  his  bill. 

Almost  all  kinds  of  sweet  berries  are  sought  for  food  by  the 
American  Waxen-wing.  In  search  of  whortle-berries,  they 
retire  in  Pennsylvania  to  the  western  mountain-chains  of  the 
Alleghany  range  ;  and  in  autumn,  until  the  approach  of  winter, 
they  are  equally  attached  to  the  berries  of  the  Virginia  juniper, 
as  well  as  those  of  the  sour-gum  tree  and  the  wax-myrtle. 
They  also  feed  late  in  the  season  on  ripe  persimmons,  small 
winter-grapes,  bird-cherries,  the  fruit  of  the  pride  of  China, 
and  other  fruits.  The  kernels  and  seeds  of  these,  uninjured  by 
the  action  of  the  stomach,  are  strewed  about,  and  thus  acci- 
dentally planted  in  abundance  wherever  these  birds  frequent. 
Like  their  prototype,  the  preceding  species,  the  migrations, 
and  time  and  place  of  breeding,  are  influenced  by  their  supply 
of  food.  In  the  spring  of  183 1  they  arrived  in  this  vicinity  as 
usual ;  but  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  cherries,  scarcely 
any  were  bred,  and  very  few  were  either  to  be  heard  or  seen 
in  the  vicinity.  In  parts  of  New  England  this  bird  is  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Canada  Robin  ;  and  by  the  French  Cana- 
dians it  is  fancifully  called  Recoliet,  from  the  color  of  its  crest 
resembling  that  of  the  hood  of  this  religious  order. 


Char.  A1 
fine  wavy  lin 
tail  black  ti] 
white.     Len{ 

Nest.     In 
grass,  lined  \ 

1.05  X  0.75- 
This  littj 
this  part  0 
few  remain 
their  wand 
and  are  n( 
March  the 
summer  ab 
England, 
fork  of  a  si 
externally  ( 
feathers. 


NORTHERN   SHRIKE. 

BUTCHER  BIRD. 

Lanius  borealis. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash,  paler  on  rump  ;  under  parts  dull  white,  with 
fine  wavy  lines  of  brownish  gray ;  bar  on  side  of  head  black ;  wings  and 
tail  bla;:k  tipped  with  white;  white  patch  on  wing;  outer  tail  feathers 
white.     Length  g}4  to  lo^  inches. 

JVesf.  In  a  tree  or  low  bush ;  large  and  roughly  made  of  sticks  and 
grass,  lined  with  leaves  or  feathers. 

JS^^s.  4-6 ;  dull  gray  with  green  tint,  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown  ; 
I -OS  X  0.75. 

This  little  ;vary  Northern  hunter  is  most  commonly  seen  in 
this  part  of  the  continent  at  the  commencement  of  winter,  a 
few  remaining  with  us  throughout  that  season.  They  extend 
their  wanderings,  according  to  Audubon,  as  far  as  Natchez, 
and  are  not  uncommon  in  Kentucky  in  severe  winters.  In 
March  they  retire  to  the  North,  though  some  take  up  their 
summer  abode  in  the  thickest  forests  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
England.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  large  and  ccmpact,  in  the 
fork  of  a  small  tree,  and  sometimes  in  an  apple-tree,  composed 
externally  of  dried  grass,  with  whitish  moss,  and  well  lined  with 
feathers.     The  eggs  are  about  6,  of  a  pale  cinereous  white, 


i6o 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


thickly  marked  at  the  greater  end  with  spots  and  streaks  of 
rufous.  The  period  of  sitting  is  about  15  days.  The  young 
appear  early  in  June  or  the  latter  end  of  May. 

The  principal  food  of  this  species  is  large  insects,  such  as 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  and  spiders.     With  the  surplv  e 

former,  as  well  as  small  birds,  he  disposes  in  a  very  suigular 
manner,  by  impaling  them  upon  thorns,  as  if  thus  providing 
securely  for  a  future  supply  of  provision.  In  the  abundance, 
however,  which  surrounds  him  in  the  ample  store-house  of 
Nature,  he  soon  loses  sight  of  this  needless  and  sportive  econ- 
omy, and,  like  the  thievish  Pie  and  Jay,  he  suffers  his  forgotten 
store  to  remain  drying  and  bleaching  in  the  elements  till  no 
longer  palatable  or  digestible.  As  this  little  Butcher,  like  his 
more  common  European  representative,  preys  upon  birds, 
these  impaled  grasshoppers  were  imagined  to  be  lures  to  attract 
his  victims ;  but  his  courage  and  rapacity  render  such  snares 
both  useless  and  improbable,  as  he  has  been  known,  with  the 
temerity  of  a  Falcon,  to  follow  a  bird  into  an  open  cage  sooner 
than  lose  his  quarry.  Mr.  J.  Brown,  of  Cambridge,  informs  me 
that  one  of  these  birds  had  the  boldness  to  attack  two  Canaries 
in  a  cage,  suspended  one  fine  winter's  day  at  the  window.  The 
poor  songsters  in  their  fears  fluttered  to  the  side  of  the  cage, 
and  one  of  them  thrust  his  head  through  the  bars  of  his  prison ; 
at  this  instant  the  wily  Butcher  tore  off  his  head,  and  left  the 
body  dead  in  the  cage.  The  cause  of  the  accident  seemed 
wholly  mysterious,  till  on  the  following  day  the  bold  hunter 
was  found  to  have  entered  the  room,  through  the  open  window, 
with  a  view  to  despatch  the  remaining  victim ;  and  but  for 
timely  interference  it  would  have  instantly  shared  the  fate  of 
its  companion.  On  another  occasion,  while  a  Mr.  Lock  in  this 
vicinity  was  engaged  in  fowling,  he  wounded  a  Robin,  who 
flew  to  a  little  distance  and  descended  to  the  ground ;  he  soon 
heard  the  disabled  bird  uttering  unusual  cries,  and  on  approach- 
ing found  him  in  the  grasp  of  the  Shrike.  He  snatched  up  the 
bird  from  its  devourer;  but  having  tasted  blood,  it  still  fol- 
lowed, as  if  determined  not  to  relinquish  its  proposed  prey, 
and  only  desisted  from  the  quest  on  receiving  a  mortal  wound. 


The  prop 
practised  ( 
afterwards 

From  h 
in  Canada 
called  a  A 
ing  specie: 
hinge ;  an( 
quacking  ( 
decoy  fow 
informed 
rather  cha 
view  to  en 
their  prey 
however  b 

So  corr 
Mocking  1 
that  it  is 
heard  one 
warble  res 
season,  an 
Catbird, 
also  moun 
his  decept 
them  with 
and  his  gr 

The  par 
their  subsi 
male  boldl 
fence,  and 

The  But 
grating  in 

Dr.  Arth 
a  female  si 
quite  a  mir 

VOL.  I. 


NORTHERN   SHRIKE. 


i6i 


The  propensity  for  thus  singularly  securing  its  prey  is  also 
practised  on  birds,  which  it  impales  in  the  same  manner,  and 
afterwards  tears  them  to  pieces  at  leisure. 

From  his  attempts  to  imitate  the  notes  of  other  small  birds, 
in  Canada  and  some  parts  of  New  England  he  is  sometimes 
called  a  Mocking  Bint  His  usual  note,  like  that  of  the  follow- 
ing species,  resembles  the  discordant  creaking  of  a  sign-board 
hinge ;  and  my  friend  Mr.  IJrown  has  heard  one  mimicking  the 
quacking  of  his  Ducks,  so  that  they  answered  to  him  as  to  a 
decoy  fowl.  They  also  imitate  other  birds,  and  I  have  been 
informed  that  they  sing  pretty  well  themselves  at  times,  or 
rather  chatter,  and  mimic  the  songs  of  other  birds,  as  if  with  a 
view  to  entice  them  into  sight,  for  the  purpose  of  making  them 
their  prey.  This  fondness  for  imitation,  as  in  the  Pies,  may 
however  be  merely  the  result  of  caprice. 

So  complete  at  times  is  the  resemblance  between  the 
Mocking  Bird  {Mimus  pollyglottus)  and  this  species  of  Lanius, 
that  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  them  apart.  I  have  lately 
heard  one  (November  loth,  1833),  employed  in  a  low  and  soft 
warble  resembling  that  of  the  Song  Sparrow  at  the  present 
season,  and  immediately  after  his  note  changed  to  that  of  the 
Catbird.  Like  that  pre-eminent  minstrel,  the  Orpheus,  he 
also  mounts  to  the  topmost  spray  of  some  lofty  tree  to  display 
his  deceptive  talent  and  mislead  the  small  birds  so  as  to  bring 
them  within  his  reach.  His  attitudes  are  also  light  and  airy, 
and  his  graceful,  flowing  tail  is  kept  in  fantastic  motion. 

The  parents  and  their  brood  move  in  company  in  quest  of 
their  subsistence,  and  remain  together  the  whole  season.  The 
male  boldly  attacks  even  the  Hawk  or  the  Eagle  in  their  de- 
fence, and  with  such  fury  that  they  generally  decline  the  onset. 

The  Butcher  Bird  breeds  from  'about  latitude  50°  northward,  mi- 
grating in  winter  south  to  the  Potomac  and  Ohio  valleys. 

Dr.  Arthur  Chadbourne,  of  Cambridge,  reports  that  he  has  heard 
a  female  sing,  and  describes  her  as  "  an  unusually  fine  singer  and 
quite  a  mimic." 


VOL.   I. 


II 


!    ■ 


1 62 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


l<^ 


LOGGERHEAD   SHRIKE. 

LaMUS    l.UDOVICIANUS. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash,  generally  not  much  paler  on  rump ;  under 
parts  pure  white,  rarely  any  lines  of  gray;  flanks  tinged  with  gray; 
forehead  and  side  of  head  black ;  wings  and  tail  black  tipped  with  white ; 
white  patch  on  wings ;  outer  tail  feathers  white.  Length  8>i  to  g}^ 
inches. 

Distinguished  from  jorea/is  by  smaller  size  and  by  the  black  forehead 
and  white  under-parts. 

M-st.  In  a  tree  ;  roughly  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  leaves 
and  feathers. 

£i;xs.  4-6 ;  dull  gray  with  green  tint  spotted  with  lilac  and  brown ; 
0.95  X  0.70. 

This  species  principally  inhabits  the  warmer  parts  of  the 
United  States,  residing  and  breeding  from  North  Carolina  to 
Florida,  where  I  have  observed  it  likewise  in  winter.  It  was 
also  seen  in  the  table- land  of  Mexico  by  that  enterprising  natu- 
ralist and  collector,  Mr.  Bullo<  k,  and  my  friend  Mr.  T.  Town- 
send  found  it  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  range  and  in  the  territory 
of  Oregon.  According  to  Audubon  it  'effects  the  low  countries, 
being  seldom  met  with  in  the  mountainous  districts. 

Its  habits  are  shy  and  retiring,  and  it  renders  itself  useful, 
and  claims  protection  by  destroying  mice  around  the  planta- 
tion, for  which  it  sits  and  watches  near  the  rice-stacks  for 
hours  together,  seldom  failing  of  its  prey  as  soon  as  it  appears. 
Like  most  of  the  genus,  it  is  also  well  satisfied  with  large  in- 
sects, crickets,  and  grasshoppers,  which  like  the  preceding 
species  it  often  impales.  In  the  breeding-season,  according 
to  Dr.  Bachman,  it  has  a  song  which  bears  some  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  young  Brown  Thrush  ;  and  though  very  irregular, 
the  notes  are  not  unpleasing.  At  other  times  its  discordant 
call  may  almost  be  compared  to  the  creaking  of  a  sign-board 
in  windy  weather;  it  probably  has  also  the  usual  talent  for 
mimicry.  The  pairs  mate  about  March,  at  which  time  the 
male  frequently  feeds  the  female,  and  shows  great  courage  in 
defending  his  nest  from  the  intrusion  of  other  birds.    The  nest 


LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE. 


»63 


is,  according  to  Dr.  Bachman,  usually  made  in  the  outer  limbs 
of  a  tree  such  as  the  live-oak  or  sweet-gum,  and  often  on  a 
cedar  15  to  30  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  coarsely  made  of 
dry  crooked  twigs,  and  lined  with  root-fibres  and  slender  grass. 
The  eggs,  3  to  5,  are  greenish  white.  Incubation  is  per- 
formed by  both  sexes  in  turn,  but  each  bird  procures  its  own 
food  in  the  intervals.  They  rear  two  broods  in  the  season. 
Its  manners  resemble  those  of  a  Hawk;  it  sits  silent  and 
watchful  until  it  espies  its  prey  on  the  ground,  when  it  pounces 
upon  it,  and  strikes  first  with  the  bill,  in  the  manner  of  small 
birds,  seizing  the  object  immediately  after  in  its  claws ;  but  it 
seldom  attacks  birds  except  when  previously  wounded. 

The  Loggerhead  is  now  said  to  be  restricted  to  the  southern 
portion  of  the  Eastern  States  north  to  Ohio  and  southern  Illinois; 
but  birds  have  been  found  breeding  in  Vermont,  Maine,  and  New 
Brunswick  that  resembled  true  ludovicianus  more  than  excubito- 
rides^  to  which  variety  some  authorities  have  referred  them. 


Note. — The  White-rumped  Shrike  (Z.  ludovicianus  excu- 
bitorides)  is  a  pale  form,  usually  restricted  to  the  Western  plains, 
but  ranging  occasionally  through  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
east  to  northern  New  England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces  of 
Canada. 


ti 


\\ 


,0^ 


REDSTART. 

SETt>PHAr.A    RUTICILL.4. 

Char.  Male:  lustrous  bUie-black  ;  belly  white;  patch  on  sides  of 
bioast,  basal  half  of  wing-quills  and  of  tail, "orange  red.  Female:  the 
black  of  the  male  replaced  by  olive  brown,  the  red  replaced  by  dull 
yellow.  Young  males  like  female,  but  gradually  changing  to  full  plumage. 
i?ill  and  feet  black.     Length  5  to  5^^  inches. 

AV.f/  An  exceedinjily  graceful  and  compact  structure  saddled  on  a 
branch,  or  supi)orted  by  forked  twigs  of  a  sapling,  from  5  to  20  feet  from 
the  ground.  It  is  comi)oscd  of  a  variety  of  materials,  in  this  region 
most  commonly  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibres  lined  with  fine  grass  or 
horse- hair. 

/r;3,'J.  4-s ;  dull  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  0.65  X  0.50 

This  beautiful  and  curious  bird  takes  up  its  summer  resi- 
dence in  almost  every  part  of  the  North  American  continent, 
being  found  in  Canada,  in  the  remote  interior  near  Red  River 
in  the  latitude  of  49  degrees,  throughout  Louisiana,  Arkansas, 
and  the  maritime  parts  of  Mexico ;  in  nil  of  which  vast  coun- 
tries it  familiarly  breeds  and  resides  during  the  mild  season, 
withdrawing  early  in  September  to  tropical  America,  where,  in. 
the  perpetual  spring  and  summer  of  the  larger  West  India 
islands,  the  species  again  find  mtans  of  support.  At  length, 
instigated  by  more  powerful  feelings  than  those  of  ordinary 
want,  the  male,  now  clad  in  his  beautiful  nuptial  livery,  and 
accompanied  by  his  mate,  seeks  anew  the  friendly  but  far 
distant  natal   regions  of  his  race.     In  no  haste,  the  playful 


REDSTART. 


165 


Redstart  does  not  appear  in  Pennsylvania  until  late  in  April. 
The  month  of  May,  about  the  close  of  the  first  week,  ushers 
his  arrival  into  the  States  of  New  lOngland ;  but  in  Louisiana 
he  is  seen  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  March.  He  is  no  i)en- 
sioner  upon  the  bounty  of  man.  Though  sometimes  seen,  on 
his  first  arrival,  in  the  darkest  part  of  the  orchard  or  garden, 
or  by  the  meandering  brook,  he  seeks  to  elude  observation, 
and  now,  the  great  object  of  his  migrations  having  arrivetlj  he 
retires  with  his  mate  to  the  thickest  of  the  sylvan  shade.  Like 
his  relative  Sylvias,  he  is  full  of  life  and  in  perpetual  motion. 
He  does  not,  like  the  loitering  Pewee,  wait  the  accidental  ap- 
proach of  his  insect  prey,  but  carrying  the  war  amongst  them, 
he  is  seen  flitting  from  bough  to  bough,  or  at  times  pursuing 
the  flying  troop  of  winged  insects  fn^m  the  top  of  the  tallest 
tree  in  a  zig-zag,  hawk- like,  descending  flight,  to  the  ground, 
while  the  clicking  of  ihe  bill  declares  distinctly  both  his  object 
and  success.  Then  alighting  on  some  atljoining  branch,  in- 
tently watching  with  his  head  extended,  he  runs  along  upon  it 
for  an  instant  or  two,  flirting  like  a  fan  his  expanded,  brilliant 
tail  from  side  to  side,  and  again  suddenly  shoots  off  like  an 
arrow  in  a  new  direction,  after  the  fresh  g  une  he  has  discov- 
ered in  the  distance,  and  for  which  he  ajjpeared  to  be  recon- 
noitring. At  first  the  males  are  seen  engaged  in  active  strife, 
pursuing  each  other  in  wide  circles  through  the  forest.  The 
female  seeks  out  her  prey  with  less  action  and  flirting,  and  in 
her  manners  resembles  the  ordinary  Sylvias. 

The  notes  of  the  male,  though  not  possessed  of  great  com- 
pass, are  highly  musical,  and  at  times  sweet  and  agreeably 
varied  like  those  of  the  Warblers.  Many  of  these  tones,  as  they 
are  mere  trills  of  harmony,  cannot  be  recalled  by  any  words. 
Their  song  on  their  first  arrival  is  however  nearly  uiiiform,  and 
greatly  resembles  the  'tsh  'tsh  tsh  tshee,  fshd,  tshe^  ts/ic  tshea,  or  'tsh 
Ush  ^tsh  'tshitshee  of  the  summer  Yellow  Bird  {Sylvia  a-stiva), 
uttered  in  a  piercing  and  rather  slender  tone ;  now  and  then 
also  agreeably  varied  with  a  somewhat  plaintive  flowing  'tshe 
tshi'  tshdj  or  a  more  agreeable  7j///V  Vj/'/V  a  'tshee,  given  almost 
in  the  tones  of  the  common  Yellow  Bird  {Frini^lla  fristis).     I 


166 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


have  likewise  heard  individuals  warble  out  a  variety  of  sweet 
and  tender,  trilling,  rather  loud  and  shrill  notes,  so  superior  to 
the  ordinary  lay  of  incubation  that  the  performer  would 
scarcely  be  supposed  the  same  bird.  On  some  occasions  the 
male  also,  when  angry  or  alarmed,  utters  a  loud  and  snapping 
chirp. 

The  nest  of  this  elegant  Sylvan  Flycatcher  is  very  neat  and 
substantial,  fixed  occasionally  near  the  forks  of  a  slender 
hickory  or  beech  sapling,  but  more  generally  fastened  or  agglu- 
tinated to  the  depending  branches  or  twigs  of  the  former; 
sometimes  securely  seated  amidst  the  stout  footstalks  of  the 
waving  foliage  in  the  more  usual  manner  of  the  delicate  cradle 
of  the  Indian  Tailor  Bird,  but  in  the  deep  and  cool  shade  of  the 
forest,  instead  of  the  blooming  bower.  Both  parents,  but  par- 
ticularly the  male,  exhibit  great  concern  for  the  safety  of  their 
nest,  whether  containing  eggs  only  or  young,  and  on  its  being 
approached,  the  male  will  flit  about  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
invader,  regardless  of  his  personal  safety,  and  exhibiting  unequi- 
vocal marks  of  distress.  The  parents  also,  in  their  solicitude 
and  fear,  keep  up  an  incessant  */s/iip  when  their  infant  brood 
are  even  distantly  approached. 

Nuttall  classed  the  Redstart  with  the  Flycatchers,  as  some  of 
its  habits  —  such  as  darting  from  a  perch,  and  capturing  insects 
while  on  the  wing  —  are  typical  of  that  family ;  but  the  more  mod- 
ern systematists  class  it  with  the  Wood  Warblers, 
dant  summer  resident  of  this  eastern  province, 


It  is  an  abun- 
breeding  from 


about  the  valley  of  the  Potomac  to  southern  Labrador. 


HOODED   WARBLER. 

Sylvania  mitrata. 

Char.  Male :  above,  yellow  olive  ;  beneath,  rich  yellow ;  sides  shaded 
with  pale  olive ;  head  and  neck  black,  enclosing  a  wide  band  o£  yellow 
across  forehead  nd  through  eyes;  tail  with  patch  of  white  on  two  or 
three  outer  tail-feahers.  Bill  black,  feet  flesh-color.  Female:  similar  to 
male,  but  sometimes  lacking  the  black,  in  which  specimens  the  crown  is 
olive  and  the  throat  yellow. 

Nest.  In  a  low  bush ;  nude  of  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with 
grass  or  horse-hair. 

Eggs.  4-5 ;  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the  larger  end  with 
brown  and  lilac;  0.70  x  0.53. 

This  beautiful  and  singularly  marked  summer  species,  com- 
mon in  the  South,  is  rarely  seen  to  the  north  of  the  State 
of  Maryland.  It  retires  to  Mexico  or  the  West  Indies  proba- 
bly to  pass  the  winter.  At  Savannah,  in  Georgia,  it  arrives 
from  the  South  about  the  20th  of  March,  according  to  Wilson. 
It  is  partial  to  low  and  shady  situations  darkened  with  under- 
wood, is  frequent  among  the  cane-brakes  of  Tennessee  and 
Mississippi,  and  is  exceedingly  active,  and  almost  perpetually 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  winged  insects.  While  thus  em- 
ployed, it  now  and  then  utters  three  loud,  and  not  unmusical, 
very  lively  notes,  resembling  the  words,  twee  twee  'twtttshe. 
In  its  simple  song  and  general  habits  it  therefore  much  resem- 
bles the  summer  Yellow  Bird.  Its  neat  and  compact  nest 
is  generally  fixed  in  the  fork  of  a  small  bush,  formed  outwardly 
of  moss  and  flax,  lined  with  hair,  and  sometimes  feathers ;  the 


! 


1 68 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


eggs,  about  5,  are  grayish  white,  with  reddish  spots  towards  the 
great  end. 

The  Hooded  Warbler  is  a  Southern  species,  but  is  a  regular 
summer  resident  of  the  Connecticut  valley,  and  has  been  found 
breeding  near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  in  southern  Michigan.  It 
is  said  to  be  more  abundant  in  South  Carolina  than  elsewhere. 


Note.  —  The  Small-headed  Flycatcher  {Wilsonia  minuta 
and  Sylvia  minuta  of  Wilson  anc  Audubon)  was  given  a  place  in 
the  "Manual"  by  Nuttall,  who  alleged  to  have  seen  the  species. 
Not  having  been  found  by  any  of  the  more  modern  observers,  it  has 
been  omitted  from  many  recent  works.  It  was  placed  on  the  "  hypo- 
thetical list "  by  the  A.  O.  A.  committee,  but  has  been  ag..in  brought 
forward  by  Ridgeway,  in  his  "Manual."  Wilson  stated  that  he 
saw  it  in  New  Jersey;  Audubon  said  he  shot  one  in  Kentucky;  and 
Nuttall's  examples  were  in  Massachusetts.  As  the  birds  were  seen 
by  Nuttall  only  "  at  the  approach  of  winter,"  it  is  probable  they 
were  the  young  of  the  year  of  some  of  the  more  northern  breed- 
ing species. 


WILSON'S  WARBLER. 

WILSON'S   BLACK  CAP. 
Sylvania   PUSILLA. 

Char.  Above,  olive ;  crown  black ;  forehead,  cheeks,  and  entire  under 
parts  yellow.  Female  and  young  duller,  and  black  cap  often  obscure, 
sometimes  lacking.     Length,  4^  to  5  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  in  a  bushy  swamp,  or  on  branch  of  low  bush  ; 
of  twigs  and  vegetable  fibre  lined  with  moss  or  fine  grass. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white  spotted  with  brown  and  lavender;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  species  of  sylvan  Flycatcher  was  first  ob- 
served by  Wilson  in  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  as  a  transitory 
bird  of  passage.  Audubon  has  noticed  it  in  Labrador  and 
Newfoundland,  where  it  was  breeding,  and  it  is  not  uncommon 
in  the  State  of  Maine.  He  also  saw  it  in  his  way  to  Texas 
early  in  April.  It  begins  to  migrate  from  Newfoundland 
about  the  middle  of  August,  and  is  seen  in  Maine  in  October. 
Mr.  Townsend  and  myself  had  the  pleasure  of  observing  the 


WILSON'S  WARBLER. 


169 


arrival  of  the  little  cheerful  songsters  in  the  wilds  of  Oregon 
about  the  first  week  of  May,  where  these  birds  commonly  take 
up  their  summer  residence,  and  seem  almost  the  counterpart  of 
our  brilliant  and  cheerful  Yellow  Birds  {Sylvia  cestiva)^  tuning 
their  lay  to  the  same  brief  and  lively  ditty,  like  Ush  'tsh  'tsh 
tshea,  or  something  similar ;  their  call,  however,  is  more  brief 
and  less  loud.  They  were  rather  familiar  and  unsuspicious,  kept 
in  bushes  more  than  trees,  particularly  in  the  thickets  which 
bordered  the  Columbia,  busily  engaged  collecting  their  insect 
fare,  and  only  varying  their  employment  by  an  occasional  and 
earnest  warble.  By  the  1 2  th  of  May  they  were  already  feed- 
ing their  full-fledged  young,  though  I  also  found  a  nest  on  the 
1 6th  of  the  same  month,  containing  4  eggs,  and  just  commen- 
cing incubation.  The  nest  was  in  the  branch  of  a  small  service 
bush,  laid  very  adroitly  as  to  concealment  upon  an  accidental 
mass  of  old  moss  {Usnea)  that  had  fallen  from  a  tree  above. 
It  was  made  chiefly  of  ground  moss  {Hypniini) ,  with  a  thick 
lining  of  dry,  wiry,  slender  grass.  The  female,  when  ap- 
proached, went  off"  slyly,  running  along  the  ground  like  a 
mouse.  The  eggs  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  summer 
Yellow  Bird,  sprinkled  with  spots  of  pale  olive  brown,  inclined 
to  be  disposed  in  a  ring  at  the  greater  end,  as  observed  by  Mr. 
Audubon  in  a  nest  which  he  found  in  Labrador  made  in  a 
dwarf  fir,  also  made  of  moss  and  slender  fir-twigs. 

Wilson's  Black  Cap  is  a  regular,  though  not  common,  summer 
resident  of  northern  New  England,  breeding  chiefly  north  of  the 
United  States.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
and  fairly  common  as  a  migrant  about  Montreal,  but  is  rarely  seen 
in  Ontario,  though  abundant  in  Ohio. 


^ 


i; 


r 


1 


BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 

POLIOPTILA   C^RULEA. 

Char.  Male:  above,  bluish  gray,  darker  on  head,  paler  on  rump; 
forehead  and  line  over  the  eye  black  ;  beneath,  pale  bluish  white ;  wings 
dusky;  tail  longer  than  the  body,  the  outer  feathers  partly  white.  Fe- 
male :  similar  to  the  male,  but  lacking  the  black  on  head.  Length  4}i 
to  5  inches. 

A^est.  A  graceful,  cup-shaped  structijre,  saddled  on  limb  of  a  tree  15 
or  20  feet  from  the  ground ;  composed  of  felted  plant  fibre  ornamented 
externally  with  lichens  and  lined  with  feathers. 

E,ii,'-gs.     3-5;  bluish  white,  speckled  with  bright  brown;  0.55  X  0.45. 

But  for  the  length  of  the  tail,  this  would  rank  among  the 
most  diminutive  of  birds.  It  is  a  very  dexterous,  lively  insect- 
hunter,  and  keeps  commonly  in  the  tops  of  tall  trees;  its 
motions  are  rapid  and  incessant,  appearing  always  in  quest  of 
its  prey,  darting  from  bough  to  bough  with  hanging  wings  and 
elevated  tail,  uttering  only  at  limes  a  feeble  song  of  /ses  /see  tsee, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  squeak  of  a  mouse.  It  arrives  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  about  the  middle  of  April, 
and  seldom  passes  to  the  north  of  the  States  of  New  York  and 
Ohio,  though  others,  following  the  course  of  the  large  rivers,  pen- 
etrate into  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  Arkansas.  Its  first  visits 
are  paid  to  the  blooming  willows  along  the  borders  of  water- 
courses, and  besides  other  small  insects  it  now  preys  on  the 
troublesome  mosquitoes.  About  the  beginning  of  May  it  forms 
its  nest,  which  is  usually  fixed  among  twigs,  at  the  height  of  10, 
or  sometimes  even  50,  feet  from  the  ground,  near  the  summit 


\ 


BLUE-GRAY  GNATCATCHER. 


171 


of  a  forest  tree.  It  is  formed  of  slij^ht  materials;  such  as  the 
scales  of  buds,  stems  and  parts  of  fallen  leaves,  withered  blos- 
soms, fern  down,  and  the  silky  fibres  of  various  plants,  lined 
with  a  few  horsehairs,  and  coated  externally  with  lichens.  In 
this  frail  nest  the  Cow  Troopial  sometimes  deposits  her  egg,  and 
leaves  her  offspring  to  the  care  of  these  affectionate  and  pigmy 
nurses.  In  this  case,  as  with  the  Cuckoo  in  the  nest  of  the 
Yellow  Wren  and  that  of  the  Red-tailed  Warbler,  the  egg  is 
probably  conveyed  by  the  parent,  and  placed  in  this  small  and 
slender  cradle,  which  would  not  be  able  to  sustain  the  weight 
or  receive  the  body  of  the  intruder. 

Though  classed  with  the  Flycatchers  by  Nuttall  and  other  writers 
of  his  day,  this  species  is  now  ranked  as  one  of  the  highest  types  of 
the  Oscines,  or  Singing  Birds,  and  a  sub-family  has  been  made  for 
this  and  the  two  Western  forms.  Mr.  William  Saunders  finds  the 
present  species  fairly  common  near  London,  Ontario,  but  it  is  only 
casual  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  rarely  seen  north  of  latitude  42°. 
It  winters  in  the  Gulf  States  and  southward. 


I 


0 


YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT. 

ICTERIA    VIRENS. 

Char.  Above,  olive ;  lores  black ;  throat  and  breast  rich  yellow ; 
belly  white.     Length  7  to  8  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  thicket  2  or  3  feet  from  the  ground  ;  of  dried  leaves,  strips 
of  bark,  or  grass  lined  with  fine  grass  or  fibres. 

Eggs.  3-4;  white,  with  pink  tint,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac ;  0.90 
X  0.70. 

This  remarkable  bird  is  another  summer  resident  of  the 
United  States  which  passes  the  winter  in  tropical  America, 
being  found  in  Guiana  and  Brazil,  so  that  its  migrations  prob- 
ably extend  indifferently  into  the  milder  regions  of  both 
hemispheres.  Even  the  birds  essentially  tropical  are  still 
known  to  migrate  to  different  distances  on  either  side  the 
equator,  so  essential  and  necessary  is  this  wandering  habit  to 
almost  all  the  feathered  race. 

The  Icteria  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  first  week  in 
May,  and  does  not  usually  appear  to  proceed  farther  north  and 
east  than  the  States  of  New  \ork  or  Connecticut.  To  the 
west  it  is  found  in  Kentucky,  and  ascends  the  Ohio  to  the 
borders  of  Lake  Erie.  In  the  distant  interior,  however,  near 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  towards  the  sources  of  the  Arkansas, 
this  bird  was  observed  by  Mr.  Say,  and  Mr.  Townsend  saw  it 


YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT. 


173 


at  Walla-Walla,  on  the  Columbia,  breeding  in  the  month  of 
June.  It  retires  to  the  south  about  the  middle  of  August,  or 
as  soon  as  the  only  brood  it  raises  are  fitted  to  undertake  their 
distant  journey. 

The  males,  as  in  many  other  migrating  birds,  who  are  not 
continually  paired,  arrive  several  days  before  the  females.  As 
soon  as  our  bird  has  chosen  his  retreat,  which  is  commonly  in 
some  thorny  or  viny  thicket  where  he  can  obtain  concealment, 
he  becomes  jealous  of  his  assumed  rights  and  resents  the  least 
intrusion,  scolding  all  who  approach  in  a  variety  of  odd  and 
uncouth  tones  very  difficult  to  describe  or  imitate,  except  by 
a  whistling,  in  which  case  the  bird  may  be  made  to  approach, 
but  seldom  within  sight.  His  responses  on  such  occasions  are 
constant  and  rapid,  expressive  of  anger  and  anxiety ;  and  still 
unseen,  his  voice  shifts  from  place  to  place  amidst  the  thicket. 
Some  of  these  notes  resemble  the  whistling  of  the  wings  of  a 
flying  duck,  at  first  loud  and  rapid,  then  sinking  till  they  seem 
to  end  in  single  notes.  A  succession  of  other  tones  are  now 
heard,  some  like  the  barking  of  young  puppies,  with  a  variety 
of  hollow,  guttural,  uncommon  sounds  frequently  repeated, 
and  terminated  occasionally  by  something  like  the  mewing  of 
a  cat,  but  hoarser,  —  a  tone  to  which  all  our  Vireos,  particularly 
the  young,  have  frequent  recurrence.  All  these  notes  are 
uttered  with  vehemence,  and  v.'th  such  strange  and  various 
modulations  as  to  appear  near  or  distant,  like  the  manoeuvres 
of  ventriloquism.  In  mild  weather  also,  when  the  moon 
shines,  this  exuberant  gabbling  is  heard  nearly  throughout  the 
night,  as  if  the  performer  was  disputing  with  the  echoes  of  his 
own  voice. 

Soon  after  their  arrival,  or  about  the  middle  of  May,  the 
Icterias  begin  to  build,  fixing  the  nest  commonly  in  a  bramble- 
bush,  in  an  interlaced  thicket,  a  vine,  or  small  cedar,  4  or  5 
feet  from  the  ground.  The  young  are  hatched  in  the  short 
period  of  1 2  days,  and  leave  the  nest  about  the  second  week 
in  June.  While  the  female  is  sitting,  the  cries  of  the  male  are 
still  more  loud  and  incessant.  He  now  braves  concealment, 
and  at  times  mounts  into  the  air  almost  perpendicularly  30 


174 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


or  40  feet,  with  his  legs  hanging  down,  and  descending  as  he 
rose,  by  repeated  jerks,  he  seems  to  be  in  a  paroxysm  of  fear 
and  anger.  The  usual  mode  of  flying  is  not,  however,  different 
from  fhat  of  other  birds. 

Th(;  food  of  the  Icteria  consists  of  beetles  and  other  shelly 
insects;  and  as  the  summer  advances,  they  feed  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  like  the  Flycatchers,  and  seem  particularly 
fond  of  whortleberries.  They  are  frequent  through  the  Middle 
States,  in  hedges,  thickets,  and  near  rivulets  and  watery 
situations. 

This  Chat  is  now  found  regularly  in  Connecticut  and  northern 
Ohio,  and  sparingly  in  Massachusetts.  A  few  examples  have  been 
taken  in  New  Hampshire  and  southern  Ontario. 


YELLOW-THROATED  VIREO. 

ViREO  FLAVIFRONS. 


Char.  Above,  rich  olive,  shading  to  ashy  gray  on  the  rump;  line 
across  the  forehead  and  around  the  eyes  yellow ;  throat  and  breast  rich 
yellow  ;  belly  white,  sides  shaded  with  pale  olive  ;  wings  dusky  with  two 
white  bars;  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  white.  Length  5  to  6 
inches. 

JVesf.  In  woods  or  orchard ;  suspended  from  fork  of  branch  5  to  30 
feet  from  the  ground  (usually  about  10  feet) ;  a  graceful  and  compact 
structure  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark  covered  with  lichens  a.^u  lined  with 
grass  or  pine  needles. 

Eg'gs.  3-5 ;  white  with  roseate  tint,  thickly  spotted  around  the  large 
end  with  shades  of  brown ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species  of  Vireo,  or  Warbling  Flycatcher,  visits  the 
Middle  and  Northern  States  of  the  Union  about  the  beginning 
of  May  or  as  soon  as  his  insect  food  allows  him  a  means  of 
subsistence.  He  resides  chiefly  in  the  forests,  where  he  hunts 
his  tiny  prey  among  the  high  branches ;  and  as  he  shifts  from 
twig  to  twig  in  restless  pursuit,  he  often  relieves  his  toil  with  a 
somewhat  sad  and  indolent  note,  which  he  repeats,  with  some 
variation,  at  short  intervals.  This  song  appears  like  'preea 
^preed,  etc.,  and  it  sometimes  finishes  with  a  complaining  call 


VELLOW-THROATED  VIREO. 


175 


' 


^ 


of  recognition,  *prreaigh  ^prrSaigh.  These  syllables  rise  and 
fall  in  different  tones  as  they  are  repeated,  but  though  usually 
sweet  and  impressive,  are  delivered  too  slow  and  solemn  to  be 
generally  pleasing.  In  other  respects  they  considerably  resem- 
ble the  song  of  the  Red- Eyed  Warbling  Flycatcher,  in  whose 
company  it  is  often  heard,  blending  its  deep  but  languid 
warble  with  the  loud,  energetic  notes  of  the  latter ;  and  their 
united  music,  uttered  during  summer,  even  at  noonday,  is 
rendered  peculiarly  agreeable,  as  nearly  all  the  songsters  of 
the  grove  are  now  seeking  a  silent  shelter  from  the  sultry  heat. 
In  the  warmest  weather  the  lay  of  this  bird  is  indeed  peculiarly 
strong  and  lively ;  and  his  usually  long-drawn,  almost  plaintive 
notes,  are  now  delivered  in  fine  succession,  with  a  peculiar 
echoing  and  impressive  musical  cadence,  appearing  like  a 
romantic  and  tender  revery  of  delight.  The  song,  now  almost 
incessant,  heard  from  this  roving  sylvan  minstrel  is  varied  in 
bars  nearly  as  follows  :  pred  prcd  preoiy  preait  preoit  f  rriweet 
preeai,  pewai  praiou,  preeai  prcco  praoit,  preeo  prcdwit  preeoo. 
When  irritated,  he  utters  z  very  loud  and  hoarse  mewing 
pra'igh  pra'tgh.  As  soon,  however,  as  the  warm  weather  begins 
to  decline,  and  the  business  of  incubation  is  finished,  about 
the  beginning  of  August,  this  sad  and  slow  but  interesting 
musician  nearly  ceases  his  song,  a  few  feeble  farewell  notes 
only  being  heard  to  the  first  week  in  September. 

This  species,  like  the  rest  of  the  genus,  constructs  a  very 
beautiful  pendulous  nest  about  3  inches  deep  and  2)^  in 
diameter.  One,  which  I  now  more  particularly  describe,  is 
suspended  from  the  forked  twig  of  an  oak  in  the  near  neigh- 
borhood of  a  dwelling-house  in  the  country.  It  is  attached 
firmly  all  round  the  curving  twigs  by  which  it  is  supported ; 
the  stoutest  external  materials  or  skeleton  of  the  fabric  is 
formed  of  interlaced  folds  of  thin  strips  of  red  cedar  bark, 
connected  very  intimately  by  coarse  threads  and  small  masses 
of  the  silk  of  spiders'  nests  and  of  the  cocoons  of  large  moths. 
These  threads  are  moistened  by  the  glutinous  saliva  of  the 
bird.  Among  these  external  materials  are  also  blended  fine 
blades  of  dry  grass.     The  inside  is  thickly  u.-dded  with  this 


t 


J: 


176 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


last  material  and  fine  root- fibres  ;  but  the  finishing  layer,  as  if 
to  preserve  elasticity,  is  of  rather  coarse  grass-stalks.  Exter- 
nally the  nest  is  coated  over  with  green  lichen,  attached  very 
artfully  by  slender  strings  of  caterpillars'  silk,  and  the  whole 
afterwards  tied  over  by  almost  invisible  threads  of  the  same,  so 
as  to  appear  as  if  glued  on ;  and  the  entire  fabric  now  resem- 
bles an  accidental  knot  of  the  tree  grown  over  with  moss. 

The  food  of  this  species  during  the  summer  is  insects,  but 
towards  autumn  they  and  their  young  feed  also  on  various 
small  berries.  About  the  middle  of  September  the  whole  move 
off  and  leave  the  United  States,  probably  to  winter  in  tropical 
America. 

Nuttall  followed  the  older  authors  in  naming  the  forest  as  the 
favorite  haunt  of  this  species.  Later  observers  consider  that  it 
frequents  orchards  and  fields  quite  as  much  as  the  woods,  and  it  is 
reported  as  common  in  the  gardens  near  Boston. 

It  occurs  throughout  the  New  England  and  Middle  States  as 
far  west  as  Iowa,  and  in  Manitoba,  where  it  is  common.  It  has 
not  been  found  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  is  common  near 
Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


BLUE-HEADED  VIREO. 

SOLITARY  VIREO. 
ViREO   SOLITARRJS. 

Char.  Above,  bright  olive;  line  from  nostril  to  and  around  the  eyes 
whitish  ;  crown  and  sides  of  head  bluish  ash  ;  beneath,  white,  sides  and 
flanks  shaded  with  olive  and  yellow;  wings  dusky  with  two  bars  of 
yellowish  white ;  tail  dusky,  feathers  edged  with  white.  Length  ^.06 
inches. 

A'est.  Suspended  from  fork  of  branch  of  low  tree  or  bush  ;  composed 
of  grass  or  vegetable  fibre,  ornamented  with  moss  or  lichens,  lined  with 
grass  and  plant  down. 

Eisgs.  Creamy  white,  spotted,  in  wreath  around  larger  end,  with  bright 
brown ;  0.80  X  0.50. 

This  is  one  of  the  rarest  species  of  the  genus,  and  from 
Georgia  to  Pennsylvania  seems  only  as  a  straggler  or  acci- 
dental visitor. 


BLUE-HEADED  VIREO. 


177 


■ 


It  possesses  all  the  unsuspicious  habits  of  the  genus,  allow- 
ing a  ne.r  approach  without  alarm.  It  seldom  rises  beyond 
the  tops  of  the  canes  or  low  bushes  amidst  which  it  is  com- 
monly seen  hopping  in  quest  of  its  subsistence,  which  consists 
of  insects  and  berries.  Its  flight  is  generally  tremulous  and 
agitated.  According  to  Dr.  Bachman,  "  it  is  every  year  be- 
coming more  abundant  in  South  Carolina,  where  it  remains 
from  about  the  middle  of  February  to  that  of  March,  keeping 
to  the  woods.  It  has  a  sweet  and  loud  song  of  half  a  dozen 
notes,  heard  at  a  considerable  distance." 

About  the  beginning  of  May,  in  the  oaks  already  almost 
wholly  in  leaf,  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia,  we  heard  around 
us  the  plaintive  deliberate  warble  of  this  species,  first  noticed 
by  Wilson.  Its  song  seems  to  be  intermediate  between  that  of 
the  Red-eyed  and  Yellow-breasted  species,  having  the  />reat\ 
preaiy  etc.,  of  the  latter,  and  the  fine  variety  of  the  former  ia 
its  tones.  It  darted  about  in  the  tops  of  the  trees,  incessantly- 
engaged  in  quest  of  food,  now  and  then  disputing  with  some 
rival.  The  nest  of  this  bird  is  made  much  in  the  same  manner 
as  that  of  the  Vireo  olivaceiis.  One  which  I  examined  was 
suspended  from  the  forked  twig  of  the  wild  crab- tree,  at  about 
ten  feet  from  the  ground.  The  chief  materials  were  dead 
and  whitened  grass  leaves,  with  some  cobwebs  agglutinated 
together,  externally  scattered  with  a  few  shreds  of  moss 
{Hypnum),  to  resemble  the  branch  on  which  it  was  hung; 
here  and  there  were  also  a  few  of  the  white  paper- like  cap- 
sules of  the  spider's  nest,  and  it  was  lined  with  fine  blades  of 
grass  and  slender  root  ribres.  The  situation,  as  usual,  was 
open  but  shady. 

This  is  a  fairly  common  summer  resident  of  northern  New 
England,  and  it  breeds  sparingly  south  to  the  Middle  States,  and 
north  to  Hudson's  Bay.  It  is  a  rare  bird  in  the  Maritime  Prov- 
inces and  in  Quebec,  though  common  in  parts  of  Ontario. 


Note.  —  The  Mountain  Solitary  Vireo  ( V.  solitarius  alti- 
cola),  lately  discovered  by  Mr.  William  Brewster  in  western  North 
Carolina,  is  described  as  "  nearly  uniform  blackish  plumbeous,  with 
only  a  faint  tinge  of  green  on  the  back." 
VOL.  I.  —  12 


WKITE-EYED  VIREO. 

ViREO   NOVEBORACENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  shading  to  ash  on  hind  neck  and  lump;  line 
from  nostril  to  and  around  eyes,  yellow  ;  beneath,  white,  duller  on  throat 
and  breast;  sides  shaded  with  yellow  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars 
yellow.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'es;".  Suspended  from  forked  twig  of  low  bush  in  a  thicket,  some- 
times on  edge  of  swamp;  composed  of  various  muierials,  — grass,  twigs, 
etc..  —  ornamented  with  mubs  and  lichens,  and  lined  with  grass,  etc. 

Eggs.   3-5  ;  white,  spotted  around  larger  end  with  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  interesting  little  bird  appears  to  be  a  constant  resident 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  States ;  as,  on  the  1 2th  of  Jan- 
uary, I  saw  them  in  great  numbers  near  Charleston,  S.  C, 
feeding  on  the  wax- myrtle  berries,  in  company  with  the  Yellow- 
Rumped  Sylvias.  At  this  season  they  were  silent,  but  very 
familiar,  descending  from  the  bushes  when  whis.led  too,  and 
peeping  cautiously,  came  down  close  to  me,  looking  about  with 
complacent  curiosity,  as  if  unconscious  of  any  danger.  In  the 
last  week  of  February,  Wilson  already  heard  them  singing  in 
the  southern  parts  of  Georgia,  and  throughout  that  month  to 
March,  I  saw  them  in  the  swampy  thickets  nearly  every  day, 
so  that  they  undoubtedly  reside  and  pass  the  winter  in  the 
maritime  parts  of  the  Southern  States.  The  arrival  of  this 
little  unsuspicious  warbler  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  England 
is  usually  about  the  middle  of  April  or  earlier.  On  the  1 2th 
of  March  I  first  heard  his  voice  in  the  low  thickets  of  West 
Florida.  His  ditty  was  now  simply  ss^t  (with  a  whistle)  wd 
witte  7v1if  ,ve-7vd  (the  first  part  very  quick).  As  late  as  in 
the  first  weel.  in  May  I  observed  a  few  stragglers  in  this  vicinity 


WHITE-EYED   VIREO. 


179 


peeping  through  the  bushes ;  and  in  the  latter  end  of  the 
month  a  pair  had  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  thickets  of 
Fresh  Pond,  so  that  those  which  first  arrive  leave  us  and  pro- 
ceed farther  to  the  north.  On  the  2  2d  of  June  I  heard  the 
male  in  full  song,  near  his  nest  in  our  neighborhood,  where  in- 
cubation was  going  on.  His  warble  was  very  pleasing,  though 
somewhat  monotonous  and  whimsical.  This  affectionate  note, 
often  repeated  near  to  his  faithful  mate  while  confined  to 
her  nest,  was  like  ^ tsh'ippewee-wd-say,  tsHippewee-wee-was-say, 
sweetly  whistled,  and  with  a  greater  compass  of  voice  and 
loudness  than  might  have  been  expected  from  the  size  of  the 
little  vocalist.  The  song  is  sometimes  changed  two  or  three 
times  in  the  course  of  twenty  minutes ;  and  1  have  heard  the 
following  phrases  :  \itt  tshippewat  'wurr,  tshippewat  ^wurr ;  at 
another  time,  Ushipeway  Ushe  o  et  Usherr.  On  another  visit 
the  little  performer  had  changed  his  song  to  ^pip  te  wa'tgh  a 
tshewa,  with  a  guttural  trill,  as  usual,  at  the  last  syllable.  He 
soon,  however,  varied  his  lay  to  ^wh'tp  te  wot  wee,  the  last  sylla- 
ble but  one  considerably  lengthened  and  clearly  whistled.  Such 
were  the  captious  variations  of  this  httle  quaint  and  peculiarly 
earnest  musician,  whose  notes  are  probably  almost  continually 
varied.  On  the  6th  wf  October  I  still  heard  one  of  these  wan- 
dering little  minstrels,  who  at  intervals  had  for  several  weeks 
visited  the  garden,  probably  in  quest  of  berries.  His  short, 
quaint,  and  more  guttural  song  was  now  atshce-vdit  (probably 
the  attempt  of  a  young  bird).  As  late  as  the  30th  of  October 
the  White- Eyed  Vireo  still  lingered  around  Cambridge,  and 
on  the  margin  of  a  pond,  surrounded  by  weeds  and  willows,  he 
was  actively  employed  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  larvae  ; 
and  now,  with  a  feebler  tone  of  voice,  warbled  with  uncommon 
sweetness  wholly  different  from  his  usual  strain,  sounding  some- 
thing like  the  sweet  whisperings  of  the  Song  Sparrow  at  the 
present  season,  and  was  perhaps  an  attempt  at  mimickry. 
Ocv  asionally,  also,  he  blended  in  his  harsher,  scolding,  or 
querulous  mewing  call. 

This  species,  like  the  reF:,  build  commonly  a  pensile  nest 
suspended  by  the  upper  edge  of  the  two  sides  on  the  circular 


1 80 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


bend,  often  of  the  smilax  or  green  briar  vine.  In  the  Middle 
States  they  often  raise  2  broods  in  the  season,  generally  make 
choice  of  thorny  thickets  for  their  nest,  and  show  much  con- 
cern when  it  is  approached,  descending  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  intruder,  looking  down  and  hoarsely  mewing  and  scolding 
with  great  earnestness.  This  petulant  display  of  irritability  is 
also  continued  when  the  brood  are  approached,  though  as  large 
and  as  active  as  their  vigilant  and  vociferous  parents.  In  the 
Middle  States  this  is  a  common  species,  but  in  Massachusetts 
rather  rare.  Its  food,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vireos,  is  insects 
and  various  kinds  of  berries,  for  the  former  of  which  it  hunts 
with  great  agility,  attention,  and  industry. 

"  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  the  Rockies,  south  in  winter  to 
Guatemala,"  is  usually  given  as  the  habitat  of  this  species.  It  has 
been  seen  rarely  north  of  southern  New  England,  and  only  one 
example  has  been  taken  in  New  Brunswick,  though  Mr.  J.  M. 
Jones  considers  it  fairly  common  in  portions  of  Nova  Scotia. 
There  is  no  authentic  report  of  its  occurrence  in  Ontario,  but  Mr. 
Mcllwraith  thinks  it  may  yet  be  found  there. 


Note.  —  Mr.  William  Brewster  has  lately  described  the  Key 
West  Vikko  ( K  noveboracensis  maynardi)  as  a  larger  bird  than 
the  type  and  of  duller  color,  the  yellow  paler. 

Bei.l's  Vireo  (  Vireo  bellii),  a  bird  of  much  the  same  appearance 
and  habits  as  the  White-eyed,  is  found  in  the  prairie  districts  of 
Illinois  and  Iowa.  It  ranges  thence  to  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies. 


WARBLING  VIREO. 
Vireo  gilvus. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive  brighter  on  the  rump,  shading  to  ashy  on 
the  head ;  beneath,  huffy  white,  flanks  and  sides  tinged  with  olive  yellow. 
Length  5  to  5H  inches. 

Nest.  In  open  pasture  or  shaded  street,  suspended  from  fork  of  a 
high  branch ;  composed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  and  lined  with  fine 
grass. 

^f:gs.  3-4;  white,  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with  brown; 
075  X  O.sr. 


\>  ♦ 


WARBLING   VIREO. 


I8l 


This  sweetest  and  most  constant  warbler  of  the  forest,  ex- 
tending his  northern  migrations  to  the  confines  of  Canada  and 
along  the  coast  of  the  Pacific  to  the  Oregon,  arrives  from  trop- 
ical America  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of  April,  and 
reaches  this  part  of  New  England  early  in  May.  His  livery, 
like  that  of  the  Nightingale,  is  plain  and  unadorned ;  but  the 
sweet  melody  of  his  voice,  —  surpassing,  as  far  as  Nature  usually 
surpasses  art,  the  tenderest  airs  of  the  flute,  —  poured  out  often 
from  the  rising  dawn  of  day  to  the  approach  of  evening,  and 
vigorous  even  during  the  sultry  heat  of  noon,  when  most  other 
birds  are  still,  gives  additional  interest  to  this  litde  vocalist. 
While  chanting  forth  his  easy,  flowing,  tender  airs,  apparently 
without  effort,  so  contrasted  with  the  interrupted  emphaticai 
song  of  the  Red-Eye,  he  is  gliding  along  the  thick  and  leafy 
branches  of  our  majestic  elms  and  tallest  trees  busied  in  quest 
of  his  restless  insect  prey.  With  us,  as  in  Pennsylvania,  the 
species  is  almost  wholly  confined  to  our  villages,  and  even 
cities.  It  is  rarely  ever  observed  in  the  woods ;  but  from  the 
tall  trees  which  decorate  the  streets  and  lanes,  the  almost  in- 
visible musician,  secured  from  the  enemies  of  the  forest,  is 
heard  to  cheer  the  house  and  cottage  with  his  untiring  song. 
As  late  as  the  2d  of  October  I  still  distinguished  his  tuneful  voice 
from  amidst  the  yellow  fading  leaves  of  the  linden,  near  which 
he  had  passed  away  the  summer.  The  approaching  dissolu- 
tion of  those  delightful  connections  which  had  been  cemented 
by  affection  and  the  cheerless  stillness  of  autumn,  still  called 
up  a  feeble  and  p'aintive  revery.  Some  days  after  this  late 
period,  warmed  by  the  mild  rays  of  the  morning  sun,  I  heard, 
as  it  were,  faintly  warbled,  a  parting  whisper ;  and  about  the 
middle  of  this  month  our  vocal  woods  and  fields  were  once 
more  left  in  dreary  silence. 

\Vhen  offended  or  irritated,  our  bird  utters  an  angry  'fshay 
Usha}\  like  the  Catbird  a*.d  the  other  Vireos,  and  sometimes 
makes  a  loud  snapping  with  his  bill.  The  nest  of  the  Warbling 
Vireo  is  generally  pendulous,  and  ambitiously  and  securely  sus- 
pended at  great  elevations.  In  our  elms  I  have  seen  one  of 
these  airy  cradles  at  the  very  summit  of  one  of  the  most  gigan- 


1 82 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


tic,  more  than  lOO  feet  from  the  ground.  At  other  times  they 
are  not  more  tha*"  50  to  70  feet  high.  The  only  nest  I  have 
been  able  to  examine  was  made  externally  of  flat  and  dry 
sedge-grass  blades,  for  which,  as  I  have  observed,  are  occa- 
sionally substituted  strings  of  bass.  These  dry  blades  and 
strips  are  confined  and  tied  into  the  usual  circular  form  by 
caterpillars'  silk,  blended  with  bits  of  wool,  silk-weed  lint,  and 
an  accidental  and  sparing  mixture  of  vernal  grass  tops  and  old 
apple-blossoms.  It  was  then  very  neatly  lined  with  the  small 
flat  blades  of  the  meadow  grass  called  Poa  compressa. 

This  species  is  rather  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  Provinces 
excepting  near  the  Maine  border  in  New  Brunswick,  and  in  the 
more  southern  portions  of  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  fairly  common  in 
southern  Quebec,  and  abundant  in  Ontario.  In  the  New  England 
and  Middle  States  it  is  an  abundant  summer  resident.  At  the  West 
it  ranges  north  to  the  fur  countries. 


RED-EYED   VIREO. 

ViREO   OLIVACEOUS. 

Char.  Above,  bright  olive,  crown  ashy  ;  beneath,  white  faintly  tinged 
with  dull  olive  on  sides ;  wings  and  tail  dusky.  Length  5)4  to  dYz 
inches. 

Nest.  In  an  open  pasture  or  along  mar;jin  of  field ;  suspended  from 
fork  of  an  upper  branch;  composed  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  and 
lined  with  fine  grass,  etc. 

Eggs-  3-5  ;  white  (sometimes  with  a  faint  i>i,..:  .mt)  spotted  sparingly, 
around  larger  end,  with  dull  brown  ;  0.80  X  0.55. 

These  common  and  indefatigabK  songsters  appear  to  inhabit 
every  part  of  the  American  continent,  from  Labrador  to  the 
large  tropical  islands  of  Jamaica  and  St.  Domingo ;  they  are 
likewise  resident  in  the  mild  tableland  of  Mexico.  Those 
individuals  who  pass  the  summer  with  us,  however,  migrate  to 
the  warmer  regions  at  the  commencement  of  winter,  as  none 
are  found  at  that  season  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
The  Red- Eyed  Vireo  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  late  in  April,  and 
in  New  England  about  the  beginning  of  May.     It  inhabits  the 


RED-EYED  VIREO. 


183 


shady  forests  or  tall  trees  near  gardens  and  the  suburbs  of 
villages,  where  its  loud,  lively,  and  energetic  song  is  often  con- 
tinued, with  little  intermission,  for  several  hours  at  a  time,  as 
it  darts  and  pries  among  the  thick  foliage  in  quest  of  insects 
and  small  caterpillars.     From  its  first  arrival  until  August  it  is 
the  most  distinguished  warbler  of  the  forest,  and  when  almost 
all  the  other  birds  have  become  mute,  its  notes  are  yet  heard 
with  unabated  vigor.     Even  to  the  5  th  of  October,  still  enliv- 
ened by  the  feeble  rays  of  the  sun,  the  male  faintly  recalls  his 
song,  and  plaintively  tunes  a  farewell  to  his  native  woods.    His 
summer  notes  are  uttered  in  short,  emphatical  bars  of  2  or  3 
syllables,  and  have  something  in  them  like  the  simple  lay  of 
the  Thrush  or  American  Robin  when  he  first  earnestly  and 
slowly  commences  his  song.     He  often  makes  use,  in  fact,  of 
the  same  expressions ;  but  his  tones  are  more  monotonous  as 
well  as  mellow  and  melodious,  like  the  rest  of  the  Vireos.     In 
moist  and  dark  summer  weather  his  voice  seems  to  be  one 
continued,  untiring  warble  of  exquisite  sweetness ;  and  in  the 
most  populous  and  noisy  streets  of  Boston  his  shrill  and  tender 
lay  is  commonly  heard  from  the  tall  elms ;  and  as  the  bustle  of 
carts  and  carriages  attempts  to  drown  his  voice,  he  elevates  his 
pipe  with  more  vigor  and  earnestness,  as  if  determined  to  be 
heard  ip   spite  of  every  discord.     The  call  of  "  Whip-Tom- 
kell\\^^  attributed  to  this  species  by  Sloane  and  even  Wilson,  I 
have  never  heard ;  and  common  as  the  species  is  throughout 
the  Union,  the  most  lively  or  accidental  fit  of  imagination 
never  yet  in  this  country  conceived  of  such  an  association  of 
sounds.     I  have  already  remarked,  indeed,  that  this  singular 
call  is,  in  fact,  sometimes  uttered  by  the  Tufted  Titmouse. 
When  our  Vireo  sings  slow  enough  to  be  distinctly  heard,  the 
following  sweetly  warbled  phrases,  variously   transposed   and 
tuned,  may  often  be  caught  by  the  attentive  listener :  ^tshooe 
pewee peedi  musik  ^du  ^du  ^du,  Ushoove  ^here  ^here,  hear  h'ere^ 
^k'ing  ^ritshatd,  ^p'shegru  Ushevu,  Usheevoo  Ushuvee  peedit  ^phrdiy 
—  the  whole  delivered  almost  without  any  sensible  interval,  with 
earnest  animation,  in  a  pathetic,  tender,  and  pleasing  strain, 
well  calculated  to  produce  calm  and  thoughtful  reflection  in 


\ 


«,„.— l.^ 


184 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


the  sensitive  mind.^  Yet  while  this  heavenly  revery  strikes  on 
the  human  ear  with  such  pecuUar  effect,  the  humble  musician 
himself  seems  but  little  concerned ;  for  all  the  while,  perhaps, 
that  this  flowing  chorus  enchants  the  hearer,  he  is  casually 
hopping  from  spray  to  spray  in  quest  of  his  active  or  crawling 
prey,  and  if  a  cessation  occurs  in  his  almost  untiring  lay,  it  is 
occasioned  by  the  caterpillar  or  fly  he  has  just  fortunately  cap- 
tured. So  unaffected  are  these  delightful  efforts  of  instinct, 
and  so  unconscious  is  the  performer,  apparently,  of  this  pleas- 
ing faculty  bestowed  upon  him  by  Nature,  that  he  may  truly  be 
considered  as  a  messenger  of  harmony  to  man  alone.  Wan- 
tonly to  destroy  these  delightful  aids  to  sentimental  happiness 
ought  therefore  to  be  viewed,  not  only  as  an  act  of  barbarity, 
but  almost  as  a  sacrilege. 

The  Red-Eyed  Vireo  is  one  of  the  most  favorite  of  all  the 
adopted  nurses  of  the  Cowbird ;  and  the  remarkable  gentle- 
ness of  its  disposition  and  watchful  affection  for  the  safety  of 
its  young,  or  of  the  foundling  confided  to  its  care,  amply  justi- 
fies this  selection  of  a  foster-parent.  The  nale,  indeed,  de- 
fends his  nest  while  his  mate  is  sitting,  wii.i  as  much  spirit  as 
ihe  King  Bird,  driving  away  every  intruder  and  complaining  in 
a  hoarse  mewing  tone  when  approached  by  any  inquisitive 
observer.  By  accident  the  eggs  were  destroyed  in  a  nest  of 
this  species  in  the  Botanic  Garden,  in  a  sugar-maple  about  20 
feet  from  the  ground.  At  this  time  no  complaints  were  heard, 
and  the  male  sang  all  day  as  cheerful  as  before.  In  a  few 
days,  unwilling  to  leave  the  neighborhood,  they  had  made  a 
second  nest  in  a  beech  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  same  prem- 
ises ;  but  now  the  male  drove  away  every  intruder  with  the 
greatest  temerity.  The  young  of  this  species  are  often  hatched 
in  about  13  days,  or  24  hours  later  than  the  parasitic  Troopial ; 
but  for  want  of  room  the  smaller  young  are  usually  stifled  or 
neglected.  I  have,  however,  seen  in  one  nest  a  surviving  bird 
of  each  kind  in  a  fair  way  for  being  reared  ;  yet  by  a  singular 
infatuation  the  supposititious  bird  appeared  by  far  the  most 
assiduously  attended,  and  in  this  case  the  real  young  of  the 
species  seemed  to  be  treated  as  puny  foundlings. 


RED-EYED   VIREO. 


185 


I 


In  the  month  of  August  the  young  fed  greedily  on  the  small 
berries  of  the  bitter  cornel  and  astringent  I'ibunium  ih'ntatum, 
as  well  as  other  kinds.  One  of  these  inexperienced  birds 
hopped  close  round  me  in  an  adjoining  bush,  without  any  fear- 
ful apprehension;  and  as  late  as  the  26th  of  October  two 
young  birds  of  the  Red-Eye  were  still  lingering  in  this  vicinity, 
and  busily  engaged  in  gleaning  subsistence.  Eager  after  flies, 
about  the  25th  of  August  a  young  bird  with  hazel  instead  of 
red  eyes  entered  a  chamber  in  the  neighborhood  and  became 
my  inmate.  1  clipped  his  wing  and  left  him  at  large  in  a 
room;  he  soon  became  very  gentle,  took  grasshoppers  and 
flics  out  of  my  hand,  eat  Viburnum  berries  with  a  good  appe- 
tite, and  in  short  seemed  pleased  with  his  quarters.  A  fly 
could  not  stir  but  it  was  instantly  caught ;  his  only  difficulty 
was  with  a  lame  King  Bird  who  occupied  the  same  apartment. 
The  King  appeared  very  jealous  of  this  little  harmless  com- 
panion ;  snapped  his  bill  at  him  when  he  approached,  and  be- 
grudged him  subsistence  when  he  perceived  that  he  fed  on  the 
same  food  with  himself.  At  length  he  would  come  to  me  for 
provision  and  for  protection  from  his  tyrannical  associate.  But 
the  career  of  my  interesting  and  lively  companion  was  soon 
terminated  by  deain,  occasioned,  in  all  probability,  by  a  diar- 
rhoea produced  in  consequence  of  swallowing  a  small  lock  of 
hair  with  his  food,  which  was  found  in  his  stomach.  This  bird, 
very  different  from  a  Sylvia  autuinnalis  which  I  afterwards  had 
in  my  possession,  regurgitated  by  the  bill,  like  the  King  Bird, 
pellets  of  the  indigestible  parts  of  his  food,  such  as  the  legs 
and  wings  of  grasshoppers  and  flies,  and  the  skins  and  seeds  of 
berries.  Unlike  the  King  Bird  in  one  particular,  however,  he 
folded  his  head  under  his  wing  when  at  rest,  and  reposed  with 
great  soundness ;  whereas  for  eight  months  I  was  never  able  to 
detect  the  former  asleep. 


if 


1 86 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


PHILADELPHIA  VIREO. 

ViREO    PHILADELPHICUS. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive,  brighter  on  rump,  shading  to  ashy  on 
crown;  beneath,  very  pale  yellow,  whiter  on  throat  and  belly;  sides 
shaded  with  olive.     Length  about  4^  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  grove  ;  suspended  from  forked  twigs  of  low  branch  ;  com- 
posed of  grass  and  birch  bark. 

^SS^-    4-2  ;  white,  spotted  with  brown ; ? 

This  species  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Cassin,  in  1851,  from 
a  specimen  shot  by  him  near  Philadelphia  in  1842.  The  bird's 
habits  remain  almost  unknown.  The  only  nest  yet  discovered  was 
found  by  Mr.  Ernest  E.  Thompson  in  Manitoba. 

Of  the  bird's  range  very  little  is  known.  A  fev/  examples  have 
been  taken  in  New  England,  and  in  1882  our  party  secured  several 
at  Edmundston,  in  New  Brunswick,  near  the  Quebec  border.  Dr. 
Wheaton  considered  it  a  regular  spring  and  fall  migrant  through 
Ohio,  but  very  few  have  been  observed  in  Ontario, 


Note.  —  Mr  Comeau  has  taken  at  Godbout,  on  the  north  shore 
of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  one  example  of  the  Yellow-green 
ViREO  {V. flavovirides),  a  bird  of  Mexico  and  Jentral  America. 


MOCKING    BIRD. 

MiMUS  POLYGLOTTUS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  gray,  darker  on  wings  and  tail ;  wings  with  two 
white  bars ;  outer  tail-feathers  white  ;  beneath,  white,  tinged  with  gray  on 
the  breast ;  bill  and  feet  black.     Length  9  to  1 1  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  thicket  or  bunch  of  low  bushes  ;  composed  of  twigs,  roots, 
grass,  etc. 

^Sff^-  4~6  >  greenish  blue  to  pale  buff,  marked  with  reddish  brown ; 
0-95  X  0.70. 

This  unrivalled  Orpheus  of  the  forest  and  natural  wonder  of 
America  inhabits  the  whole  continent,  from  the  State  of  Rhode 
Island  to  the  larger  isles  of  the  West  Indies ;  and  continuing 
through  the  equatorial  regions,  is  found  in  the  southern  hemi- 
sphere as  far  as  Brazil.  Nor  is  it  at  all  confined  to  the  Eastern 
or  Atlantic  States.  It  also  exists  in  the  wild  territory  of  Ar- 
kansas more  than  a  thousand  miles  from  the  mouth  of  Red 
River ;  and  I  have  since  seen  it  in  the  scanty  forests  of  Upper 
California.  It  breeds  at  the  distant  western  sources  of  the 
Platte,  near  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  well  as  in 
Texas ;  and  Mr.  Bullock  saw  it  in  the  table-land  of  Mexico. 
The  Mocking  Bird  rears  its  young,  and  consequently  displays 
its  wonderful  powers,  in  all  the  intermediate  regions  of  its 
residence  in  the  United  States  to  the  peninsula  of  Florida.  It 
appears,  in  short,  permanently  to  inhabit  the  milder  regions  of 


1 88 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


the  western  world  in  either  hemisphere ;  and  the  individuals 
bred  north  of  the  Delaware,  on  this  side  the  equator,  are  all 
that  ever  migrate  from  their  summer  residence.  A  still  more 
parti rii  migration  takes  place  also,  probably,  from  west  to  east, 
in  quest  of  the  food  and  shelter  which  the  maritime  districts 
afford.  Though  now  so  uncommon  in  that  vicinity,  50  or  60 
yars  ago,  according  to  Bartram,  it  even  wintered  near  Phila- 
delphia, and  made  a  temporary  abode  in  the  mantling  ivy  of 
his  venerable  mansion.  In  summer  a  few  proceed  as  far  as 
Rhode  Island,  following  the  mild  temperature  of  the  sea-coast ; 
but  farther  north  these  birds  are,  I  believe,  nearly  unknown, 
except  rarely  and  occasionally  in  Massachusetts  near  the  sea. 
With  the  advance  of  the  season,  also,  in  the  country  which  it 
inhabits,  varies  the  time  of  incubation.  Early  in  April  the 
nests  are  begun  in  the  maritime  paits  of  Georgia,  but  not  before 
the  middle  of  May  in  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  winter  these  birds  chiefly  subsist  on  berries,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  Virginia  juniper  (called  red  cedar),  wax- 
myrtle,  holly,  smilax,  sumach,  sour-gum,  and  a  variety  of 
others,  which  furnish  them  and  many  other  birds  with  a  plen- 
tiful repast.  Insects,  worms,  grasshoppers,  and  larvae  are  the 
food  on  which  they  principally  subsist  when  so  eminently  vocal 
and  engaged  in  the  task  of  rearing  their  young.  In  the  South- 
ern States,  where  they  are  seldom  molested,  with  ready  saga- 
city they  seem  to  court  the  society  of  man  and  fearlessly  hop 
around  the  roof  of  the  house  or  fly  before  the  planter's  door. 
When  a  dwelling  is  first  settled  in  the  wilderness,  this  bird  is 
not  seen  sometimes  in  ihe  vicinity  for  the  first  year ;  but  at 
length  he  pays  his  welcome  visit  to  the  new-comer,  gratified 
with  the  little  advantages  he  discovers  around  him,  and  seek- 
ing out  also  the  favor  and  fortuitous  protection  of  human 
society.  He  becomes  henceforth  familiar,  and  only  quarrels 
with  the  cat  and  dog,  whose  approach  he  instinctively  dreads 
near  his  nest,  and  never  ceases  his  complaints  and  attacks  until 
they  retreat  from  his  sight. 

None  of  the  domestic  animals,  or  man  himself,  but  partic- 
ularly the  cat  and  dog,  can  approach  during  the  period  of 
incubation,  without  receiving  an  attack  from  these  affectionate 


MOCKING   BIRD. 


189 


" 


guardians  of  their  brood.  Their  most  insidious  and  deadly 
enemies,  however,  are  reptiles,  particularly  the  black  snake, 
who  spares  neither  the  eggs  nor  young.  As  soon  as  his  fatal 
approach  is  discovered  by  the  male,  he  darts  upon  him  without 
hesitation,  eludes  his  bite,  and  striking  him  about  the  head, 
and  particularly  the  eyes,  where  most  vulnerable,  he  soon  suc- 
ceeds in  causing  him  to  retreat,  and  by  redoubling  his  blows, 
in  spite  of  all  pretended  fascination,  the  wily  monster  often 
falls  a  victim  to  his  temerity ;  and  the  heroic  bird,  leaving  his 
enemy  dead  on  the  field  he  provoked,  mounts  on  the  bush 
above  his  affectionate  mate  and  brood,  and  in  token  of  victory 
celebrates  with  his  loudest  song. 

The  Mocking  Bird,  like  the  Nightingale,  is  destitute  of  bril- 
liant plumage  ;  but  his  form  is  beautiful,  delicate,  and  symmet- 
rical in  its  proportions.  His  motions  are  easy,  rapid,  and 
graceful,  perpetually  animated  with  a  playful  caprice  and  a 
look  that  appears  full  of  shrewdness  and  intelligence.  He 
listens  with  silent  attention  to  each  passing  sound,  treasures  up 
lessons  from  everything  vocal,  and  is  capable  of  imitating  with 
exactness,  both  in  measure  and  accent,  the  notes  of  all  the 
feathered  race.  And  however  wild  and  discordant  the  tones 
and  calls  may  be,  he  contrives,  with  an  Orphean  talent  pecu- 
liarly his  own,  to  infuse  into  them  that  sweetness  of  expression 
and  harmonious  modulation  which  characterize  this  inimi- 
table and  wonderful  composer.  With  the  dawn  of  morning, 
while  yet  the  sun  lingers  below  the  blushing  horizon,  our  sub- 
lime songster,  in  his  native  wilds,  mounted  on  the  topmost 
branch  of  a  tall  bush  or  tree  in  the  forest,  pours  out  his  admi- 
rable song,  which,  amidst  the  multitude  of  notes  from  all  the 
warbling  host,  still  rises  pre-eminent,  so  that  his  solo  is  heard 
alone,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  musical  choir  appear  employed  in 
mere  accompaniments  to  this  grand  actor  in  the  sublime  opera 
of  Nature.  Nor  is  his  talent  confined  to  imitation  ;  his  native 
notes  are  also  bold,  full,  and  perpetually  varied,  consisting  of 
short  expressions  of  a  few  variable  syllables,  interspersed  with 
imitations  and  uttered  with  great  emphasis  and  volubility, 
sometimes  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  undiminished  ardor. 
These  native  strains  bear  a  considerable  resemblance  to  those 


'I 


lt'<HM 


I90 


RINGING  BIRDS. 


of  the  Brown  Thrush,  to  whom  he  is  so  nearly  related  in  form, 
habits,  and  manners ;  but,  like  mde  from  cultivated  genius,  his 
notes  are  distinguished  by  the  rapidity  of  their  delivery,  their 
variety,  sweetness,  and  energy.  As  if  conscious  of  his  unri- 
valled powers  of  song,  and  animated  by  the  harmony  of  his 
own  voice,  his  music  is,  as  it  were,  accompanied  by  chromatic 
dancing  and  expressive  gestures ;  he  spreads  and  closes  his 
light  and  fanning  wings,  expands  his  silvered  tail,  and  with 
buoyant  gayety  and  enthusiastic  ecstasy  he  sweeps  around,  and 
mounts  and  descends  into  the  air  from  his  lofty  spray  as  his 
song  swells  to  loudness  or  dies  away  in  sinking  whispers. 
While  thus  engaged,  so  various  is  his  talent  that  it  might  be 
supposed  a  trial  of  skill  from  all  the  assembled  birds  of  the 
country;  and  so  perfect  are  his  imitations  that  even  the 
sportsman  is  at  times  deceived,  and  sent  in  quest  of  birds  that 
have  no  existence  around  him.  The  feathered  tribes  them- 
selves are  decoyed  by  the  fancied  call  of  their  mates,  or  dive 
with  fear  into  the  close  thicket  at  the  well- feigned  scream  of 
the  Hawk. 

Soon  reconciled  to  the  usurping  fancy  of  man,  the  Mocking 
Bird  often  becomes  familiar  with  his  master ;  playfully  attacks 
him  through  the  bars  of  his  cage,  or  at  large  in  a  room ;  rest- 
less and  capricious,  he  seems  to  try  every  expedient  of  a  lively 
imagination  that  may  conduce  to  his  amusement.  Nothing 
escapes  his  discerning  and  intelligent  eye  or  faithful  «ar.  He 
whistles  perhaps  for  the  dog,  who,  deceived,  runs  to  m<^et  his 
master;  the  cries  of  the  chicken  in  distress  bring  out  the 
clucking  mother  to  the  protection  of  her  brood.  The  barking 
of  the  dog,  the  piteous  wailing  of  the  puppy,  the  mewing  of 
the  cat,  the  action  of  a  saw,  or  the  creaking  of  a  wheelbarrow, 
quickly  follow  with  exactness.  He  repeats  a  tune  of  consider- 
able length ;  imitates  the  warbling  of  the  Canary,  the  lisping 
of  the  Indigo  Bird,  and  the  mellow  whistle  of  the  Cardinal,  in 
a  manner  so  superior  to  the  originals  that,  mortified  and  aston- 
ished, they  withdraw  from  his  presence,  or  listen  in  silence  as 
he  continues  to  triumph  by  renewing  his  efforts. 

In  the  cage  also,  nearly  as  in  the  woods,  he  is  full  of  life  and 
action  while  engaged  in  song,  throwing  himself  round  with  in- 


MOCKING  BIRD. 


IQI 


■r 


spiring  animation,  and,  as  it  were,  moving  in  time  to  the  melody 
of  his  own  accents.  Even  the  hours  of  night,  which  consign 
nearly  all  other  birds  to  rest  and  silence,  like  the  Nightingale 
he  oft  employs  in  song,  serenading  the  houseless  hunter  and 
silent  cottager  to  repose,  as  the  rising  moon  illumines  the 
darkness  of  the  shadowy  scene.  His  capricious  fondness  for 
contrast  and  perpetual  variety  appears  to  deteriorate  liis  pow- 
ers. His  imitations  of  the  Brown  Thrush  are  perhaps  inter- 
rupted by  the  crowing  of  the  cock  or  the  barking  of  the  dog ; 
the  plaintive  warblings  of  the  Bluebird  are  then  blended  with 
the  chatter  of  the  Swallow  or  the  cackling  of  the  hen ;  atnid 
the  simple  lay  of  the  native  Robin  we  are  surprised  with  the 
vociferations  of  the  Whip-poor-will ;  while  the  notes  of  the 
garrulous  Jay,  Wren,  and  many  others  succeed  with  such  an 
appearance  of  reality  that  we  almost  imagine  ourselves  in  the 
presence  of  the  originals,  and  can  scarcely  realize  the  fact  that 
the  whole  of  this  singular  concert  is  the  effort  of  a  single 
bird.  Indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  listen  to  these  Orphean 
strains,  when  delivered  by  a  superior  songster  in  his  native 
woods,  without  being  deeply  affected  and  almost  riveted  to 
the  spot  by  the  complicated  feeling,  of  wonder  and  delight 
in  which,  from  the  graceful  and  sympathetic  action,  as  well  as 
enchanting  voice  of  the  performer,  the  eye  is  no  less  gratified 
than  the  ear.  It  is,  however,  painful  to  reflect  that  these  ex- 
traordinary powers  of  nature,  exercised  with  so  much  generous 
freedom  in  a  state  of  confinement,  are  not  calculated  for  long 
endurance,  and  after  this  most  wonderful  and  interesting  pris- 
oner has  survived  for  6  or  7  years,  blindness  often  terminates 
his  gay  career ;  and  thus  shut  out  from  the  cheering  light,  the 
solace  of  his  lonely  but  active  existence,  he  now  after  a  time 
droops  in  silent  sadness  and  dies. 

The  Mocking  Bird  is  a  rare  but  regular  summer  visitor  to  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  and  southern  Massachusetts,  and  examples 
have  been  taken  in  Maine.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that  a  pair 
spent  the  summer  of  1883  near  Hamilton.  Ontario,  and  C.  A. 
McLennan  records  in  the  O.  &  O.  the  capture  of  one  near  Truro, 
N.  S.     The  species  is  chiefly  restricted  to  the  Southern  States. 


BROWN   THRAl'KER. 

BROWN   T'lRUSH. 
Hartorhy'^chus  RUFUS. 

Char.  Above,  bright  reddish  brown  or  rufous  ;  beneath,  whiv<=^,  tinged 
with  rufous  or  b-ifif;  breast  and  side  spotted  with  brown;  bill  about  as 
long  as  the  head.     Length  lO/^  to  12  inches. 

A'esf.  In  a  thicket  or  low  bush,  and  sometimes  on  the  ground;  bulky, 
and  loosely  constructed  of  twigs,  roots,  aid  clricJ  grass,  sometimes  lined 
with  horse-hair  or  feathers. 

^^yj.  3-6  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  with  buiTor  gr-  ,n  tint,  marked  with 
minute  spots  of  reddish  brown;  i.cx)  X  0.80. 

This  large  and  well-known  songster,  inferior  to  none  but  the 
Mocking  Bird  m  musical  talent,  is  found  in  every  part  of  this 
continent,  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican 
Gulf,  breeding  in  all  the  intermediate  space,  though  more 
abundantly  towards  the  North.  It  retires  to  the  South  early  in 
October,  in  the  States  north  of  the  Carolinas,  and  probably  ex- 
tends its  migrations  at  this  season  through  the  warmer  regions 
towards  the  borders  of  the  tropics. 

From  the  15  th  of  Apiil  to  early  in  May  these  birds  begin  to 
revisit  the  Middle  and  Northern  States,  keeping  pace  in  some 
measure  with  the  progress  of  vegetation  and  the  comparative 


BROWN  THRASHER. 


193 


advancement  of  the  season.  They  appear  always  to  come  in 
pairs,  so  that  their  mutual  attachment  is  probably  more  durable 
than  the  season  of  incubation.  Stationed  on  the  top  of  some 
tall  orchard  or  forest  tree,  the  male,  gay  and  animated,  salutes 
the  morn  of  his  arrival  with  his  loud  and  charming  song.  His 
voice,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Thrush  of  Europe,  but 
far  more  varied  and  powerful,  rises  pre-eminent  amidst  all  the 
vocal  choir  of  the  forest.  His  music  has  the  full  charm  of  in- 
nate originality ;  he  takes  no  delight  in  mimickry,  and  has 
therefore  no  title  to  the  name  of  Mocking  Bird.  On  his  first 
appearance  he  folters  in  his  song,  like  the  Nightingale  ;  but 
when  his  mate  commences  her  cares  and  labors,  his  notes 
attain  all  their  vigor  and  variety.  The  young  birds,  even  of 
the  first  season,  in  a  state  of  solitary  domestication,  without  the 
aid  of  the  parent's  voice,  already  whisper  forth  in  harmonious 
revery  the  pathetic  and  sweet  warble  instinctive  to  the  species. 
In  the  month  of  May,  while  the  blooming  orchards  perfume 
and  decorate  the  landscape,  the  enchanting  voice  of  the 
Thrasher  in  his  affectionate  lay  seems  to  give  grate  ful  utter- 
ance for  the  bounty  and  teeming  profusion  of  Nature,  and 
falls  in  pleasing  unison  with  the  harmony  and  beauty  of  the 
season. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  May  the  Thrashers  are 
engaged  in  building  their  nest,  selecting  for  this  purpose  usu- 
ally a  low,  thick  bush,  in  some  retired  thicket  or  swamp  a  few 
feet  from  the  earth,  and  sometimes  even  on  the  ground  in 
some  sheltered  tussuck,  or  near  the  root  of  a  bush.  They  dis- 
play the  most  ardent  affection  for  their  young,  attacking 
snakes,  dogs,  and  cats  in  their  defence.  One  of  the  parents, 
usually  the  male,  seems  almost  continually  occupied  in  guard- 
ing against  any  dangerous  intruder.  The  cat  is  attacked  com- 
monly at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  young,  and  the 
woods  echo  with  his  plaintive  y^dw,  yf-oiu,  and  the  low, 
guttural,  angry  Vj7/  'tsh  'tsh  Ush.  The  enemy  is  thus  pursued 
off  the  field,  commonly  with  success,  as  guilty  grimalkin  ap- 
pears to  understand  the  threatening  gestures  and  complaints 
with  which  she  is  so  incessantly  assailed.  Towards  their  more 
VOL.   I.  —  13 


I 


1 


194 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


insidious  enemies  of  the  human  species,  when  approaching  the 
helpless  or  unfledged  young,  every  art  is  displayed ;  threats, 
entreaties,  and  reproaches  the  most  pathetic  and  powerful,  are 
tried  in  no  equivocal  strain ;  they  dart  at  the  ravisher  in  wild 
despair,  and  lament,  in  the  most  touching  strains  of  sorrow,  the 
bereavement  they  suffer.  I  know  of  nothing  equal  to  the  burst 
of  grief  manifested  by  these  affectionate  parents  excepting  the 
afflicting  accents  of  suffering  humanity. 

Their  food  consists  of  worms  and  insects  generally;  also 
caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  coleopterous  tribes,  as  well  as 
various  kinds  of  berries.  In  the  month  of  January  I  observed 
this  Thrush  and  the  Mocking  Bird  feed  on  the  berries  of  the 
sumach.  Sometimes  they  raise  up  a  few  grains  of  planted 
corn,  but  this  is  more  the  effect  of  caprice  than  appetite,  as 
the  search  for  grubworms  is  what  commonly  induces  this 
resort  to  scratching  up  the  soil.  The  Thrasher  is  an  active, 
watchful,  shy,  and  vigorous  species,  generally  flying  low,  dwel- 
ling among  thickets,  and  skipping  from  bush  to  bush  with  his 
long  tail  sometimes  spread  out  like  a  fan.  About  the  first  week 
in  October,  after  moulting,  they  disappear  for  the  season  and 
pass  the  winter  in  the  Southern  States.  By  the  middle  of 
February,  or  early  in  March,  they  already  display  their  vocal 
powers  in  the  warmer  parts  of  Georgia  and  West  Florida. 
They  are  easily  reared,  and  become  very  familiar  and  amusing 
companions,  showing  a  strong  attachment  to  the  hand  that 
feeds  and  protects  them.  In  their  manners,  intelligence,  song, 
and  sagacity,  they  nearly  approach  to  the  Mocking  Bird,  being 
equally  playful,  capricious,  petulant,  and  affectionate. 

The  Thrasher  is  abundant  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  found  in  Ver- 
mont and  New  Hampshire,  but  near  the  Athantic  seaboard  does 
not  go  farther  north  than  southern  Maine.  It  occurs  regularly  in 
the  vicinity  of  Montreal,  and  is  common  in  Ontario  and  Manitoba. 
It  winters  from  about  37°  southward. 


-      ?  L-.V^>r-i-«^  o*-^ 


CATBIRD. 


195 


CATBIRD. 

Galeoscoptes  carolinensis. 

Char.  General  color  dark  slate,  paler  beneath  ;  top  of  head  and  tail 
black ;  under  tail-coverts  chestnut.     Length  8  to  g%  inches. 

A'ifst.  In  thicket  or  orchard  ;  bulky,  and  rudely  constructed  of  twigs, 
leaves,  and  grass,  lined  with  grass  or  fine  roots. 

£^'S's.    4-6 ;  deep  bluish  green ;  0.95  X  0.70. 

This  quaint  and  familiar  songster  passes  the  winter  in  the 
southern  extremities  of  the  United  States  and  along  the  coast 
of  Mexico,  whence  as  early  as  February  it  arrives  in  Geor- 
gia. About  the  middle  of  April  it  is  first  seen  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  at  length  leisurely  approaches  this  part  of  New 
England  by  the  close  of  the  first  or  beginning  of  the  second 
week  in  May.  These  birds  continue  their  migration  also  to 
Canada,  where  they  proceed  into  the  fur-countries  as  far  as 
the  45  th  parallel,  arriving  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan 
about  the  close  of  May.  Throughout  this  extent  and  to  the 
territory  of  the  Mississippi  they  likewise  pass  the  period  of  in- 
cubation and  rearing  their  young.  They  remain  in  New  Eng- 
land till  about  the  middle  of  October,  at  which  time  the  young 
feed  principally  upon  wild  berries. 

The  Catbird  often  tunes  his  cheerful  song  before  the  break 
of  day,  hopping  from  bush  to  bush  with  great  agility  after  his 
insect  prey,  while  yet  scarcely  distinguishable  amidst  the  dusky 
shadows  of  the  da\\  n.  The  notes  of  different  individuals  vary 
considerably,  so  ti  it  sometimes  his  song  in  sweetness  and 
compass  is  scarcely  at  all  inferior  to  that  of  the  Ferniginous 
Thrush.  A  quaintness,  however,  prevails  in  all  his  efforts,  and 
his  song  is  frequently  made  up  of  short  and  blended  imitations 
of  other  birds,  —  given,  however,  with  great  emphasis,  melody, 
and  variety  of  tone,  and,  like  the  Nightingale,  invading  the 
hours  of  repose.  In  the  late  twilight  of  a  summer's  evening, 
when  scarce  another  note  is  heard  but  the  hum  of  the  drowsy 
beetle,  his  music  attains  its  full  effect,  and  often  rises  and  falls 
with  all  the  swell  and  studied  cadence  of  finished  harmony. 


1 


196 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


During  the  heat  of  the  (iay,  or  late  in  the  morning,  the  variety 
of  his  song  decHnes,  or  he  pursues  his  employment  in  silence 
iind  retirement. 

About  the  25th  of  May  one  of  these  familiar  birds  came  into 
the  liotanic  Clarden  and  took  up  his  summer  abode  with  us. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  he  called  u[)  in  low  whisi)erings  the  notes 
of  the  Whip-poor-will  the  Redbird,  ihii  pefo  peto  of  the  Tufted 
Titmouse,  and  other  imitations  of  Southern  birds  which  he  had 
collected  on  his  leisurely  route  from  the  South.  He  also  soon 
mocked  the  '/s/tf-yd/i  ' /s/u'-vd/i  of  the  little  Acadian  l-'Iycatch- 
ers,  with  which  the  neighborhood  now  aboumLd.  He  fre- 
quently answered  to  my  whistle  in  the  garden,  was  very  silent 
during  the  period  of  incubation,  and  ex])ressed  great  anxiety 
and  complaint  on  my  approaching  the  young  after  their  leaving 
the  nest. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  propensities  of  the  Catbird,  and 
to  which  it  owes  its  name,  is  the  unpleasant,  loud,  and  grating 
cat-like  w<?7tv  ('/<7r,  ^dv,  'pdy)  .vhich  it  often  utters  on  being 
appror'ched  or  offended.  As  th;^  irritation  increases,  this  note 
becomes  more  hoarse,  reiterated,  and  vehement ;  and  some- 
times this  petulance  and  anger  are  carried  so  far  as  to  per- 
secute every  intruder  who  approaches  the  premises.  This 
temper  often  prevails  after  the  young  are  fledged  ;  and  though 
originating  no  doubt  in  parental  anxiety,  it  sometimes  appears 
to  outlive  that  season,  and  occasionally  becomes  such  an  an- 
noyance that  a  revengeful  and  fatal  blow  from  a  stick  or  stone 
is  but  too  often,  with  the  thoughtle&s  and  prejudiced,  the  re- 
ward of  this  harmless  and  capricious  provocation.  At  such 
times,  with  little  apparent  cause,  the  agitation  of  the  bird  is 
excessive  ;  she  hurries  backward  and  forward  with  hanging 
wings  and  open  mouth,  mewing  and  screaming  in  a  paroxysm 
of  scolding  anger,  and  alighting  almost  to  peck  the  very  hand 
that  offers  the  insult.  To  touch  a  twig  or  branch  in  any  part 
of  the  garden  or  wood  is  often  amply  suflficient  to  call  down 
the  amusing  termagant.  This  harmless  excess,  and  simulation 
of  grimalkin's  tone,  —  that  wizard  animal  so  much  disliked  by 
many,  —  are  unfortunate  associations  in  the  cry  of  the  CathxxA ; 


CATBIRD. 


197 


and  thus,  coupled  with  an  ill  name,  this  delightful  and  familiar 
songster,  who  seeks  out  the  very  society  of  man  and  rejjoses 
an  unmerited  confidence  in  his  protection,  is  tnrated  with  un- 
deserved oblcKjuy  and  contempt.  The  flight  of  the  Catbird  is 
laborious,  anil  usually  continued  only  from  bush  to  bush  ;  his 
progress,  however,  is  very  wily,  and  his  attitudes  and  jerks 
amusingly  capricious.  He  appears  to  have  very  little  fear  of 
enemies,  often  descends  to  the  grotmd  in  quest  of  insects,  and 
though  almost  familiar,  is  very  (juick  in  his  retreat  from  real 
danger. 

The  food  of  the  Catbird  is  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding 
species,  being  insects  and  worms,  particularly  beetles,  and  va- 
rious garden  fruits ;  feeding  his  young  often  on  cherries  and 
various  kinds  of  berries.  Sometimes  these  birds  are  observed 
to  attack  snakes  when  they  approach  the  vicinity  of  the  nest, 
and  commonly  succeed  in  driving  off  the  enemy  ;  wlien  bitten, 
however,  by  the  poisonous  kinds,  it  is  probable,  as  related, 
that  they  may  act  in  such  a  manner  as  to  appear  laboring 
under  the  influence  of  fascination.  The  Catbird,  when  raised 
from  the  nest,  is  easily  domesticated,  becomes  a  very  amusing 
inmate,  ano  seems  attached  to  his  cage,  as  to  a  dwelling  or 
place  of  security.  About  dawn  of  day,  if  at  large,  he  flirts 
about  with  affected  wildness,  repeatedly  jerks  his  tail  and 
wings  with  the  noise  almost  of  a  whip,  and  stretching  forth  his 
head,  opens  his  mouth  and  mews.  Sometimes  this  curious 
cry  is  so  guttural  as  to  be  uttered  without  opening  the  bill.  Ke 
often  also  gives  a  squeal  as  he  flies  from  one  place  to  another, 
and  is  very  tame,  though  pugnacious  to  all  other  biids  which 
approach  him  for  injury.  When  wanting  food,  he  stirs  round 
with  great  uneasiness,  jerks  everything  about  within  his  reach, 
and  utters  the  feeble  cry  of  the  caged  Mocking  Bird.  A  very 
amusing  individual,  which  I  now  describe,  began  his  vocal 
powers  by  imitating  the  sweet  and  low  warble  of  the  Song 
Sparrow,  as  given  in  the  autumn ;  and  from  his  love  of  imita- 
tion on  other  occasions,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  he  pos- 
sesses no  original  note  of  his  own,  but  acquires  and  modulates 
the  songs  of  other  birds.     Like  the  Robin,  he  is  exceedindy 


li  ; 


198 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


fond  of  washing,  and  dashes  about  in  the  water  till  every 
feather  api)ears  drenched  ;  he  also,  at  times,  basks  in  the 
gravel  in  fine  weather.  His  food,  in  confinement,  is  almost 
everything  vegetable  except  unbruised  seeds, — as  bread,  fine 
pastry,  akes,  scalded  cornmeal.  fruits,  particularly  those  which 
are  juic^    and  now  and  then  insects  and  minced  flesh. 

The  Catbird  occurs  regularly  alonj;;  the  Annapolis  valley  in 
Nova  Scotia,  and  in  New  Brunswick  between  the  Maine  border 
and  th?  valley  of  the  St.  John,  but  it  is  rarely  seen  elsewhere  in  the 
Maritime  Provinces.  It  is  fairly  common  near  the  city  of  Quebec, 
and  abundant  about  Montreal  and  in  Ontario. 


ROBIN. 


Meruit  migraixiria. 

Char.  Above,  olive  gray ;  head  and  neck  darker,  sometimes  black ; 
wings"  and  tail  dusky;  outer  tail-feathers  broadly  tipped  with  white;  be- 
neath, brownish  red;  thro.it  white  with  dark  streaks;  under  tail-coverts 
white ;  bid  yellow.     Length  9  to  10  inches. 

i\V.r/.  Usually  in  a  tree,  but  often  on  fence-rail  or  window-ledge  of 
house  or  barn ;  a  bulky  but  compact  structure  of  grass,  twigs,  etc., 
cemented  with  mud. 

ACn'-^-    4~5»  greenish  blue  (occasionally  speckled);  1.15  X  0.80. 

The  familiar  and  welcome  Robins  are  found  in  summer 
throughout  the  North  Ainerican  continent  from  the  desolate 
regions  of  Hudson's  Bay,  in  the  53d  degree,  to  the  tableland 
of  Mexico.  In  all  this  vast  space  the  American  FieldHvres  rear 
their  young,  avoiding  only  the  warmer  maritime  districts,  to 
which,  however,  they  flock  for  support  during  the  inclemency 
of  winter.  The  Robins  have  no  fixed  time  for  migration,  nor 
any  particular  rendezvous ;  they  retire  from  the  higher  lati- 
tudes only  as  their  food  begins  to  fail,  and  so  leisurely  and 
desultory  are  their  movements  that  they  make  their  appear- 
ance in  straggling  piarties  even  in  Massachusetts,  feeding  on 
winter  berries  till  driven  to  the  South  by  deep  and  inundating 
snows.  At  this  season  they  swarm  in  the  Southern  States, 
though  they  never  move  in  large  bodies.     The  holly,  prinos, 


ROBIN. 


199 


sumach,  smilax,  candle-berry  myrtle,  and  the  Virginian  juniper 
now  alTord  them  an  ample  repast  in  the  winter,  in  the  absence 
of  the  more  juicy  berries  of  autumn,  and  the  insects  and 
worms  of  the  milder  season.  Even  in  the  vicinity  of  Tioston 
flocks  of  Robins  are  seen,  in  certain  seasons,  assembling  round 
open  springs  in  the  depth  of  winter,  having  arrived  probably 
from  the  colder  interior  of  the  State  ;  and  in  those  situations  they 
are  consequently  often  trapped  and  killed  in  great  numbers. 

Towards  the  close  of  January  in  South  Carolina  the  Robin 
at  intervals  still  tuned  his  song ;  and  about  the  second  week  of 
March,  in  the  Middle  States,  before  the  snows  of  winter  have 
wholly  disappeared,  a  few  desultory  notes  are  already  given. 
As  soon  as  the  loth  of  this  month  they  may  at  times  also  be 
heard  in  this  p;irt  of  New  P2ngland.  Pearly  in  April,  however, 
at  the  close  of  the  jealous  contests,  which  are  waged  with  ob- 
s'tinacy,  they  are  only  seen  in  pairs ;  and  now  from  the  orchard 
or  the  edge  of  the  forest,  deliver  their  simple,  thrilling  lays  in 
all  the  artless  energy  of  true  affection.  This  earnest  song  re- 
calls to  mind  the  mellow  whistle  of  the  Thnish,  which  in  the 
charming  month  of  May  so  sweetly  rises  in  warbling  echoes 
from  the  low  copse  and  shady  glen.  Our  American  bird  has 
not,  however,  the  compass  and  variety  of  that  familiar  and 
much-loved  songster ;  but  his  freedom  and  willingness  to 
please,  render  him  an  universal  favorite,  and  he  now  comes, 
as  it  were,  with  the  welcome  prelude  to  the  general  concert 
about  to  burst  upon  us  from  all  the  green  woods  and  blooming 
orchards.  With  this  pleasing  association  with  the  opening 
season,  amidst  the  fragrance  of  flowers  and  the  improving  ver- 
dure of  the  fields,  we  listen  with  peculiar  pleasure  to  the  sim- 
ple song  of  the  Robin.  The  confidence  he  reposes  in  us  by 
making  his  abode  in  our  gardens  and  orchards,  the  frankness 
and  innocence  of  his  manners,  besides  his  vocal  powers  to 
please,  inspire  respect  and  attachment  even  in  the  truant 
school-boy,  and  his  exposed  nest  is  but  rarely  molested.  He 
owes,  however,  this  unmunity  in  no  small  degree  to  the  fortu- 
nate name  which  he  bears ;  as  the  favorite  Robin  Redbreast,^ 
said  to  have  covered  with  a  leafy  shroud  the  lost  and  wander- 


200 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ing  "  babes  in  the  woods,"  is  held  in  universal  respect  in  every 
part  of  Europe,  where  he  is  known  by  endearing  names,  and  so 
familiar  in  winter  that  he  sometimes  taps  at  the  window  or 
enters  the  house  in  search  of  crumbs,  and  like  the  domestic 
fowls,  claims  his  welcome  pittance  at  the  farmer's  door. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is  often  on  the  horizontal  branch  of 
an  apple-tree,  or  in  a  bush  or  tree  in  the  woods,  and  so  large 
as  to  be  scarcely  ever  wholly  concealed.  The  parents  show 
great  affection,  courage,  and  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  their 
young,  keeping  up  a  noisy  cackling  chirp  when  the  place  is 
approached,  sometimes  even  boldly  pecking  at  the  hand  or 
flying  in  the  face  of  the  intruder ;  and  they  have  often  serious 
contests  with  the  piratical  Cuckoo,  who  slyly  watches  the  ab- 
sence of  the  parents  to  devour  their  eggs.  To  avoid  these 
visits  and  the  attacks  of  other  enemies,  the  Robin  has  been 
known  to  build  his  nest  within  a  few  yards  of  the  blacksmith's 
anvil ;  and  in  Portsmouth  (New  Hampshire)  one  was  seen  to 
employ  for  the  same  purpose  the*  stem  timbers  of  an  unfin- 
ished vessel,  in  which  the  carpenters  were  constantly  at  work, 
the  bird  appearing  by  this.;  adventurous  association  as  if  con- 
scious of  the  protection  of  so  singular  and  bold  a  situation.  I 
have  also  seen  a  nest  of  the  Robin  bottomed  with  a  mass  of 
pine  shavings  taken  without  alarm  from  the  bench  of  the  car- 
penter. From  the  petulant  and  reiterated  chirp  so  commonly 
uttered  by  the  Robin  when  surprised  or  irritated,  the  Indians 
of  Hudson's  Bay  call  him,  from  thii-  note,  Pee-pee-tshu.  They 
often  also  utter  a  loud  echoing  'hh  'kh  'kh,  and  sometimes 
chirp  in  a  high  or  slender  tone  when  alarmed,  and  with  an 
affectation  of  anger  sharply  flirt  the  tail  and  ends  of  the  wmgs. 
They  raise  several  broods  in  a  season,  and  considerable  num- 
bers flock  togt  'icr  in  che  latter  end  of  summer  and  autumn. 
When  feeding  on  cherries,  poke,  sassafras,  and  sour-gum  ber- 
ries, they  are  so  intent  as  to  be  easily  approached  and  shot 
down  in  numbers ;  and  when  fat  are  justly  esteemed  for  food 
and  often  brought  to  market.  In  the  spring  they  frequently 
descend  to  the  ground  in  quest  of  worms  and  insects,  which 
then  constitute  th'Hr  principal  support. 


ROBIN. 


201 


They  are  commonly  brought  up  in  the  cage,  and  seem  very 
docile  and  content.  Ihey  sing  well,  readily  learn  to  imitate 
lively  parts  of  tunes,  and  some  have  been  taught  to  pipe  forth 
psalms  even  to  so  dull  and  solemn  a  measure  as  that  of  "  Old 
Hundred''  I  They  acquire  also  a  considerable  taste  for  mim- 
ickry,  imitating  the  notes  of  most  of  the  birds  around  them, 
such  as  the  Bluebird,  Pewee,  Whip-poor-will,  and  others.  On 
being  approached  with  the  finger,  they  usually  make  some 
show  of  anger  by  cracking  and  snapping  the  bill.  At  times 
they  become  very  tame,  and  will  go  in  and  out  of  the  house 
with  domestic  confidence,  feel  uneasy  when  left  alone,  and  on 
such  occasions  have  sometimes  the  sagacity  of  calling  attention 
by  articulating  endearing  words,  a.?,  pretty,  pretty,  etc.,  connec- 
ting, apparently  with  these  expressions,  their  general  import  of 
attentive  blandishment.  They  become  almost  naked  in  the 
moulting  season,  in  which  they  appear  to  suffer  considerably, 
yet  have  been  known  to  survive  for  1 7  years  or  upwards.  The 
rufous  color  of  the  breast  becomes  deeper  in  those  birds  which 
thus  live  in  confinement.  Their  principal  song  is  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  commences  before  sunrise,  at  which  time  it  is  very 
loud,  full,  and  emphatic. 

The  eastern  form  of  this  species  is  not  found  westward  of  the 
Great  Plains  excepting  in  the  far  North,  where  it  has  been  traced 
to  the  Yukon  district  of  Alaska.  From  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies  to  the  Pacific  it  is  replaced  hy  propinqua,  a  larger,  grayer 
variety. 

I  have  seen  large  flocks  of  Robins  in  New  Brunswick  during 
some  winters,  and  every  year  they  are  more  or  less  common  during 
the  cold  months.  These  winter  birds  have  much  more  white  on 
their  under  parts  than  is  seen  on  specimens  taken  in  the  summer, 
and  their  entire  plumage  is  hoary.  They  doubtless  spend  the  sum- 
mer much  farther  north,  —  probably  on  the  barren  lands  which 
border  the  Arctic  Ocean,  -  and  are  but  the  northernmost  edge  of 
that  cloud  of  Robins  which  every  autumn  rises  from  their  breeding- 
grounds  and  sails  away  southward  until,  when  it  has  finally  settled, 
its  eastern  margin  is  found  stretched  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence 
to  the  West  indies.  Throughout  this  range,  embracing  as  it  does 
many  variations  of  climate,  Robins  may  be  found  in  suitable  local- 
ities during  every  winter,  —  rather  rare,  sometimes,  at  the  north, 
but  increasing  in  abundance  towards  the  South. 


202 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


The  habit  of  this  species  of  assembling  in  large  communities  to 
roost  at  night,  during  the  summer  months,  was  unknown  to  natur- 
alists until  a  few  years  ago,  and  no  mention  of  this  habit  appeared 
in  print  until  October,  1890,  when  detailed  accou.its  of  several 
"  roosts  "  that  had  been  discovered  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  were 
published  in  the  '•  Atlantic  Monthly  "  and  "The  Auk."  They  were 
written  by  Mr.  Bradford  Torrey  and  Mr.  William  Brewster  re- 
spectively. The  "  roosts "  are  situated  in  Norton's  Woods,  on 
Beaver  Brook,  Belmont,  in  Longwood,  and  in  Melrose. 

The  Robins  assembling  in  these  places  are  numbered  by 
thousands. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Varied  Thrush  {Hespero- 
cichla  navia)  have  wandered  from  the  Pacific  coast  to  the  Eastern 
States;  and  the  Red-winged  Thrush  {Turdus  iliacus)  occasion- 
ally wanders  from  Europe  to  Greenland. 


^i» 


>K, 


^ 


I  ^lO 


f  LA-V^    Ci>-n.vjWM-,4- vi 


WOOD  THRUSH. 

TURDUS   MUSTELINUS. 


Char.  Above,  tawny,  brightest  on  head,  shading  to  oli\-e  on  rump  and 
tail ;  beneath,  whit<i ;  breast  and  sides  spotted  with  dusky.  Length  jyi 
to  8^  inches. 

J^esi.  In  a  thickot  or  on  low  branch  of  small  tree,  usually  in  a  moist 
place  ;  of  grass  and  leaves  cemented  with  mud,  lihed  with  fine  roots. 

£gg^s.    3-5 ;  greenish  blue  ;  1.05X0.75. 

This  solitary  and  retiring  songster  during  summer  inhabits 
the  whole  continent  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Florida ;  and  ac- 
cording to  my  friend  Mr.  Ware,  breeds  as  far  south  as  the 
vicinity  of  Natchez,  in  the  territory  of  Mississippi.  Whether 
it  leaves  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States  in  the  winter  is 
not  satisfactorily  ascertained ;  as  the  species  is  then  silent,  and 
always  difficult  of  access,  its  residence  is  rendered  peculiarly 
doubtful.  The  lateness  of  the  season  in  which  it  still  lingers 
renders  it  probable  that  it  may  winter  in  the  Southern  States, 
as  a  young  bird,  gleaning  insects  and  berries,  has  been  caught 
in  a  garden  in  Boston  on  the  26th  of  October. 

From  the  southern  parts  of  the  Union,  or  wherever  he  may 
winter,  the  Wood  Thrush  arrives  in  the  Middle  States  from  the 


WOOD  THRUSH. 


203 


r 


1st  to  the  15th  of  April;  though  his  appearance  here,  where 
the  species  is  scarce,  does  not  take  place  earlier  than  the  be- 
ginning of  May.  At  the  dawn  of  morning  he  now  announces 
his  presence  in  the  woods,  and  from  the  top  of  some  tall  tree, 
rising  through  the  dark  and  shady  forest,  he  pours  out  his  few, 
clear,  and  harmonious  notes  in  a  pleasing  revery,  as  if  inspired 
by  the  enthusiasm  of  renovated  Nature.  The  prelude  to  this 
song  resembles  almost  the  double  tonguing  of  the  flute,  blended 
with  a  tinkling,  shrill,  and  solemn  warble  which  re-echoes  from 
his  solitary  retreat  like  the  dirge  of  some  sad  recluse  who 
shuns  the  busy  haunts  of  life.  The  whole  air  consists  usually 
of  4  parts  or  bars,  which  succeed,  in  deliberate  time,  and 
finally  blend  together  in  impressive  and  soothing  harmony, 
becoining  more  mellow  and  sweet  at  every  repetition.  Rival 
performers  seem  to  challenge  each  other  from  various  parts  of 
the  wood,  vying  for  the  favor  of  their  mates  with  sympathetic 
responses  and  softer  tones  ;  and  some,  waging  a  jealous  strife, 
terminate  the  warm  dispute  by  an  appeal  to  combat  and  vio- 
lence. Like  the  Robin  and  the  Thrasher,  in  dark  and  gloomy 
weather,  when  other  birds  are  sheltered  and  silent,  the  clear 
notes  of  the  Wood  Thrush  are  heard  through  the  dropping 
woods  from  dawn  to  dusk,  so  that  the  sadder  the  day,  the 
sweeter  and  more  constant  is  his  song.  His  clear  and  inter- 
rupted whistle  is  likewise  often  nearly  the  only  voice  of  melody 
heard  by  the  traveller,  to  mid-day,  in  the  heat  of  summer,  as  he 
traverses  the  silent,  dark,  and  wooded  wilderness,  remote  from 
the  haunts  of  men.  It  is  ^nearly  impossible  by  words  to  con- 
vey any  idea  of  the  peculiar  warble  of  this  vocal  hermit ;  but 
amongst  his  phrases  the  sound  of  ^airoee,  peculiarly  liquid,  and 
followed  by  a  trill  repeated  in  two  interrupted  bars,  is  readily 
recognizable.  At  times  the  notes  bear  a  considerable  resem- 
blance to  those  of  Wilson's  Thrush  ;  such  as  eh  rhehu  ^vrhehu, 
then  varied  to  'M  viiria  villiay  *M  villia  vrhehu,  then  ^eh  velu 
viiliu,  high  and  shrill. 

The  Wood  Thrush  is  always  of  a  shy  and  retiring  disposi- 
tion, appearing  alone  or  only  in  single  pairs,  and  while  he 
willingly  charms  us  with  his  song,  he  is  content  and  even  soli- 


204 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


citous  to  remain  concealeil.  His  favorite  haunts  are  low,  shady 
glens  by  watercourses,  often  rendered  dark  with  alder-bushes, 
mantled  with  the  trailing  grape-vine.  In  quest  of  his  insect 
prey,  he  delights  to  follow  the  meanders  of  the  rivulet,  through 
whose  leafy  shades  the  sunbeams  steal  only  in  a  few  inter- 
rupted rays  over  the  sparkling  surface  of  the  running  brook. 
So  partial  is  this  birtl  to  solitude  that  I  have  known  one  to 
sing  almost  uniformly  in  the  same  place,  though  nearly  half  a 
mile  from  his  mate  and  nest.  At  times  indeed  he  would  ven- 
ture a  few  faltering,  low  notes  in  an  oak  near  his  consort,  but 
his  mellowest  morning  and  evening  warble  was  always  deliv- 
ered from  a  tall  hickory,  overtopping  a  grove  of  hemlock  firs, 
in  which  the  dimness  of  twilight  prevailed  even  at  noon.  The 
Wood  Thrush,  like  the  Nightingale,  therefore  feels  inspired  in 
darkness ;  but  instead  of  waiting  for  the  setting  sun,  he  chooses 
a  retreat  where  the  beams  of  day  can  seldom  enter.  These 
shady  retreats  have  also  an  additional  attraction  to  our  Thrush  ; 
it  is  here  that  the  most  interesting  scene  of  his  instinctive 
labor  begins  and  ends  ;  here  he  first  saw  the  light  and  breathed 
into  existence ;  and  here  he  now  bestows  his  nest  in  a  sapling 
oak,  or  in  the  next  thick  laurel  or  blooming  alder,  whose  ber- 
ries afford  him  ample  repast  in  the  coming  autumn.  Beetles, 
caterpillars,  various  insects,  and  in  autumn,  berries,  constitute 
the  principal  food  of  the  Wood  Thrush.  The  young  remain 
for  weeks  around  gardens  in  quest  of  berries,  and  are  particu- 
larly fond  of  those  of  the  various  species  of  cornel  and  vibur- 
num. At  this  season  they  occasionally  leave  their  favorite 
glens,  and  in  their  devious  wanderings,  previous  to  their  de- 
parture, sometimes  venture  to  visit  the  rural  suburbs  of  the 
city.  The  young  are  easily  raised,  and  sing  nearly  as  well  in 
the  cage  as  in  their  native  wilds. 

Nuttall  made  a  mistake  in  giving  to  the  Wood  Thrush  so  ex- 
tended a  range,  and  must  have  confused  this  species  with  the 
Olive-backed,  of  which  he  makes  no  mention.  The  Wood  Thrush 
has  not  been  seen  farther  north  than  Massachusetts,  southern 
Ontario,  and  southern  Michigan.  It  nests  southward  to  Georgia 
and  westward  to  eastern  Kansas,  and  winters  south  to  Guatemala 
and  Cuba. 


HERMIT  THRUSH. 


205 


HERMIT  THRUSH. 

SWAMP   ROBIN. 
TURDUS   AONALASCHKVK    PALLASll. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  shading  to  rufous  on  rump  and  tail ;  beneath 
white  or  buffish,  shaded  with  olive  on  sides;  throat  and  breast  spotted 
with  dark  olive.     Length  6>2  to  7>2  in.hes. 

A\-st.     On  the  ground,  loosely  made  of  leaves,  grass,  and  moss. 

£&'^-     3-5;  greenish  blue  ;  0.85  X  065. 

This  species,  so  much  hke  the  Nightingale  in  color,  is  scarce 
inferior  to  that  celebrated  bird  in  its  powers  of  song,  and 
greatly  exceeds  the  Wood  Thrush  in  the  melody  and  sweetness 
of  its  lay.  It  inhabits  the  United  States  from  the  lofty  alpine 
mountains  of  New  Hampshire  to  P'lorida.  It  is  also  met  with 
on  thvj  tableland  of  Mexico  and  in  the  warmer  climate  of  the 
Antilles.  In  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey,  and  New  I'^ngland,  at 
the  close  of  autumn,  it  appears  to  migrate  eastward  to  the  sea- 
coast  in  quest  of  the  winter  berries  on  which  it  now  feeds  ;  in 
spring  and  summer  it  lives  chiefly  on  insects  and  their  larvre, 
and  also  collects  the  surviving  berries  of  the  Mikhella  rcpcns. 

Like  the  preceding  species,  it  appears  to  court  solitude,  and 
lives  wholly  in  the  woods.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  it 
inhabits  the  whole  year,  it  frequents  the  dark  and  desolate 
shades  of  the  cane  swamps.  In  these  almost  Stygian  regions, 
which,  besides  being  cool,  abound  probably  with  its  favorite 
insect  food,  we  are  nearly  sure  to  meet  our  sweetly  vocal 
hermit  flitting  through  the  settled  gloom,  which  the  brightest 
rays  of  noon  scarcely  illumine  with  more  than  twilight.  In  one 
of  such  swamps,  in  the  Choctaw  nation,  Wilson  examined  a 
nest  of  this  species  which  was  fixed  on  the  horizontal  branch 
of  a  tree,  formed  with  great  neatness  and  without  using  any 
plastering  of  mud.  The  outside  was  made  of  a  layer  of  coarse 
grass,  having  the  roots  attached,  and  intermixed  with  horse- 
hair ;  the  lining  consisted  of  green  filiform  blades  of  dry  grass 
very  neatly  wound  about  the  interior. 

In  the  Middle  States  these  birds  are  only  seen  for  a  few 


206 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


weeks  in  the  spring  and  fall.  They  arrive  in  this  part  of  New 
England  about  the  loth  of  April,  and  disperse  to  pass  the 
summer  in  the  seclusion  of  the  forest.  They  are  often  seen  on 
the  ground  in  quest  of  their  food,  and  frequent  low  and  thick 
copses,  into  which  they  commonly  fly  for  concealment  when 
too  attentively  observed ;  though  when  in  small  companies,  in 
the  spring  season,  they  do  rot  appear  very  shy,  but  restless 
from  the  unsettled  state  of  their  circumstances.  When  dis- 
persed, they  utter  a  low,  chirping  call,  and  for  some  time 
continue  to  frequent  the  same  secluded  part  of  the  forest 
in  society.  At  times,  like  the  Wagtail,  they  keep  this  part  of 
their  body  in  a  slow,  vertical  motion.  In  manners  they  strongly 
resemble  the  following  species,  but  their  song  seems  to  be 
unusually  lively  and  varied. 

The  Hermit  is  a  common  bird  in  the  Maritime  Provinces  and 
Quebec,  and  nests  from  about  latitude  44°  northward.  It  is  com- 
mon on  Anticosti  and  along  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  and  has  been  taken  at  Lake  Mistassini.  In  Ontario  it 
occurs  chiefly  as  a  migrant,  though  breeding  in  the  Muskoka 
district.  In  New  England  also  it  is  principally  known  as  a 
migrant,  breeding  in  numbers  only  along  the  northern  border  and 
on  the  higher  hills  of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts.  The  nest 
has  been  taken  in  Ohio  and  in  southern  Michigan. 

The  opinions  expressed  by  Nuttall  that  the  Hermit  Thrush  is  a 
peculiarly  shy  and  solitary  bird,  and  that  its  favorite  resorts  are 
amid  the  deep  forests,  are,  I  think,  somewhat  misleading;  at  least 
my  observations  in  New  Hrunrwick  led  me  to  form  quite  different 
opinions.  I  did  find  these  birds  courting  retirement  and  appar- 
ently destitute  of  either  vanity  or  curiosity;  but  they  always  dis- 
played a  calm  sjlf-possession  that  is  inconsistent  with  shyness. 
Nor  were  they  peculiarly  solitary,  for  though  it  was  unusual  to  see 
a  number  of  them  in  close  companionship,  it  was  not  unusual  to 
meet  with  half  a  dozen  in  as  many  minutes,  or  to  find  as  many 
nests  within  a  small  area. 

Like  all  woodland  birds,  they  prefer  the  groves  to  the  open  fields, 
and  they  enjoy  a  cool  shade  in  a  moist  valley ;  but  they  build 
their  nests  near  the  settlements,  and  rarely  go  into  the  denser  for- 
ests. This  is  their  habit  in  New  Brunswick,  though  of  course  when 
farther  north  they  must  resort  to  the  timber  districts;  there  are 
few  settlements  to  attract  them. 


Ch 

crean 
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tuft  0 

Eg. 

Tl 
New 
rang 
Sout 
than 


,y^^-^^^f 


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y' 


WILSON'S  THRUSH. 

TAWNY   THRUSH.    VEERY. 
TURDUS   FUSCESCENS. 

Char.  Above,  light  tawny  or  rufous  ;  benenth,  white,  shaded  with 
creamy  buff  on  breast,  and  with  olive  on  sides;  breast  spotted  with 
tawny.     Length  6>^  to  7|^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground  or  near  it,  usually  at  the  base  of  small  tree  or  in 
tuft  of  old  grass  ;  of  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  fine  roots. 

Eggs.    3-5;  pale  greenish  bint ;  0.85  X  0.65. 

This  common  Northern  species  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  and 
New  England  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  its  northern 
range  extends  as  far  as  Labrador.  It  appears  to  retire  to  the 
South  early  in  October,  and  is  more  decidedly  insectivorous 
than  any  other  native    pecies.     According  to  Wilson,  many  of 


208 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


these  birds  winter  in  the  myrtle-swamps  of  South  Carolina.  I 
have  not,  however,  seen  them  in  the  Southern  States  at  that 
season,  and  most  part  of  the  species  pass  on  probably  as  far  as 
the  coast  of  the  Mexican  Gulf.  They  do  not,  according  to 
Wilson,  breed  in  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  though  un- 
doubtedly they  do  in  the  mountainous  districts,  where  they  are 
seen  as  late  as  the  20th  of  May.  They  propagate  and  are  very 
common  in  Massachusetts. 

In  its  retiring  habits  and  love  of  concealment  this  Thrush 
resembles  the  preceding.  It  frequents  the  dark  and  shady 
borders  of  small  brooks  and  woods,  and  sometimes  the  bushy 
and  retired  parts  of  the  garden ;  from  whence,  without  being 
often  seen,  in  the  morning  and  particularly  the  evening  to  the 
very  approach  of  night,  we  often  hear  the  singular,  quaint,  and 
musical  note  of  this  querulous  species  at  short  inter\als,  as  one 
perches  upon  some  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush.  This  curious 
whistling  note  sounds  like  'vehu  'v'rehu  ^'c'rchu  'v'nhu,  and 
sometimes  'z'm  ved  \^rchd  ^vrehd  vehu,  running  up  the  notes 
till  they  become  shrill  and  quick  at  the  close,  in  the  first 
phrase,  but  from  high  to  low,  and  terminating  slender  and 
slow,  in  the  latter ;  another  expression  seems  to  be,  'vc  'ved 
vehurr,  ascending  like  a  whistle.  The  song  of  another  indi- 
vidual was  expressed  in  the  following  manner  :  've  hnllill  'viirill 
'tulli'ill  'titllul  It  was  then  repeated  with  variation,  \^e  viUillil 
viimivillVl;  then  vimilill  vimilill,  tail  Hill  tuiniill ;  the  whole 
agreeably  and  singuhirly  delivered  in  a  shrill,  hollow  voice, 
almost  like  the  sound  of  liquor  passing  through  a  tunnel  into  a 
bottle.  I  have  also  heard  several  of  these  sounds,  sometimes 
occasionally  prefaced  by  a  mewing  or  chirping  warble.  These 
sounds,  though  monotoiious,  are  possessed  of  greater  variety 
than  is  at  first  imagined,  the  terminating  tone  or  key  changing 
through  several  repetitions,  so  as  to  constitute  a  harmony  and 
melody  in  some  degree  approaching  the  song  of  the  more 
musical  Wood  Thnish.  From  this  habit  of  serenading  into 
the  night,  the  species  is  sometimes  here  dignified  with  the 
nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  Occasionally  he  utters  an  angry, 
rather  plaintive  mew,  like  the  Catbird,  or  a  quivering  bleat 


nnwi 


> 


WILSON'S   THRUSH. 


209 


almost  similar  to  that  of  a  lamb  ;  and  when  approached,  watches 
and  follows  the  intruder  with  an  angry  or  petulant  quedh 
guedh  ;  at  other  times  a  sort  of  mewing,  melancholy,  or  com- 
plaining feow  'feow  is  heard,  and  then,  perhaps,  a  hasty  and 
irsx^2ii\tn\.  petit  peui  follows.  The  food  of  this  species,  at  least 
during  the  early  part  of  summer,  appears  to  be  shelly  insects  of 
various  kinds,  particularly  Chrysomeias,  or  lady-bugs,  and  those 
many  legged  hard  worms  of  the  genus  luhis. 

A  good  while  after  the  commencement  of  the  period  of  in- 
cubation I  have  observed  the  males  engaged  in  obstinate  quar- 
rels. On  the  4th  of  June,  1830,  I  observed  two  of  these 
petulant  Thrushes  thus  fiercely  and  jealously  contending ;  one 
of  them  used  a  plaintive  and  angry  tone  as  he  chased  his 
antagonist  up  and  down  the  tree.  At  length,  however,  a  cousin 
Catbird,  to  which  this  species  has  some  affinity,  stepped  in  be- 
twixt the  combatants,  and  they  soon  parted.  One  of  these 
birds  had  a  nest  -^.nd  mate  in  the  gooseberry  bush  of  a  neigh- 
boring garden ;  the  second  bird  was  thus  a  dissatisfied  hermit, 
and  spent  many  weeks  in  the  Botanic  Garden,  where,  though 
at  times  sad  and  solitary,  yet  he  constantly  amused  us  with  his 
forlorn  song,  and  seemed  at  last,  as  it  were,  acquainted  with 
those  who  whistled  for  him,  peeping  out  of  the  bushes  with  a 
sort  of  complaisant  curiosity,  and  from  his  almost  nocturnal 
habits  became  a  great  persecutor  of  the  assassin  Owl  whenever 
he  dared  to  make  his  appearance. 

The  nest  of  Wilson's  Thrush  (commenced  about  the  close  of 

the  first  week  in  May)  is  usually  in  a  low  and  thorny  bush  in 

the  darkest  part  of  the  forest,  at  no  great  distance  from  the 

ground  (i   to  3  feet),  sometimes  indeed  on  the  earth,  but 

raised  by  a  bed  of  leaves,  and  greatly  resembles  that  of  the 

Catbird.     This  species  seems,  indeed,  for  security  artfully  to 

depend  on  the  resemblance  of  itself  and  its  leafy  nest  with  the 

bosom  of  the  forest  on  which  it  rests,  and  when  approached  it 

sits  so  close  as  nearly  to  admit  of  being  taken  up  by  the  hand. 

The  nest  sometimes  appears  without  any  shelter  but  shade  and 

association  of  colors  with  the  place  on  which  it  rests.     I  have 

seen  one  placed  on  a  mass  of  prostrated  dead  brambles,  on  a 
VOL.  I.  —  14 


■    I 


,   i 


=1 


2IO 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


fallen  heap  of  lilac  twigs  in  a  ravine,  and  also  in  a  small 
withered  branch  of  red  oak  which  had  fallen  into  a  bush ;  be- 
low it  was  also  bedded  with  exactly  similar  leaves,  so  as  easily 
to  deceive  the  eye.  But  with  all  these  precautions  they  appear 
to  lose  many  eggs  and  young  by  squirrels  and  other  animals. 
The  nest  is  usually  bottomed  with  dry  oak  or  beech  leaves, 
coarse  stalks  of  grass  and  weeds,  and  lined  very  generally  with 
naturally  dissected  foliage,  its  stalks,  some  fine  grass,  and  at 
other  times  a  mixture  of  root-fibres ;  but  no  earth  is  employed 
in  the  fabric.  The  eggs,  4  or  5,  are  of  an  emerald  green  with- 
out spots,  and  differ  from  those  of  the  Catbird  only  in  being  a 
little  smaller  and  more  inclined  to  blue.  So  shy  is  the  species 
that  though  I  feigned  a  violent  chirping  near  the  nest  contain- 
ing their  young,  which  brought  Sparrows  and  a  neighboring 
Baltimore  to  the  rescue,  the  parents,  peeping  at  a  distance,  did 
not  venture  to  approach  or  even  express  any  marked  concern, 
though  they  prove  very  watchfui  guardians  when  their  brood 
are  fledged  and  with  them  in  the  woods.  They  have  com- 
monly two  broods  in  the  season ;  the  second  being  raised 
about  the  middle  of  July,  after  which  their  musical  notes  are 
but  seldom  heard.  I  afterwards  by  an  r  xident  obtained  a 
young  fledged  bird,  which  retained  in  the  cage  the  unsocial 
and  silent  timidity  peculiar  to  the  species. 

Wilson's  Thrush  breeds  farther  to  the  southward  than  the  Her- 
mit, but  does  not  range  quite  so  far  north.  It  is  common  in  the 
Maritime  Provinces  and  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  but  has  not  been 
taken  recently  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  It 
breeds  abundantly  in  Ontario  and  in  northern  Ohio. 

In  New  Brunswick  I  have  found  the  nest  as  frequently  in  an 
open  pasture  as  in  more  obscure  places. 


^ 


ta^iij^M^. , 


7- 


GRAY-CHEEKED  TIiRUSH.  211 


OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 

TURDUS   US-rULATUS    SWAINSONII. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  beneath,  white,  shaded  with  olive  on  the  sides  ; 
sides  of  head,  neck,  and  breast  tinged  with  buff;  throat  and  breast 
spotted  with  olive ;  yellowish  ring  around  the  eye.  Length  6}i  to  yyi 
inches. 

AVj/.     In  a  low  tree  or  bush  ;  of  twigs,  leaves,  grass,  etc. 

•^^ST-f-     3~4i'  greenish  blue  speckled  with  brown  ;  0.90  X  0.65. 

This  species  was  omitted  by  Nuttall,  though  given  by  Wilson.  It 
has  much  the  same  range  and  similar  habits  as  the  Hermit,  though 
differing  in  its  song  and  the  location  of  its  nest.  The  tone  of  its 
voice  is  richer  and  rounder  —  more  flute-like  and  less  metallic  — 
than  that  of  any  other  of  the  small  Thrushes ;  but  the  song  lacks 
that  spiritual  quality  so  conspicuous  in  the  hymn-.;Ke  melody  of 
the  Hermit. 

The  Olive-backed  is  found  thro"ghout  the  temperate  region  of 
eastern  North  America,  and  westward  to  the  eastern  base  of  the 
Rockies.  It  breeds  in  northern  New  England  and  northward,  and 
in  the  elevated  portions  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  as  well 
as  in  northern  New  York  and  Michigan,  and  winters  in  the  Gulf 
States  and  southwird  to  Panama. 

It  is  common  ir  che  Maritime  Provinces,  but  is  reported  rather 
rare  between  Montreal  and  Lake  Huron,  though  it  being  an  abun- 
dant migrant  through  Ohio,  I  should  expect  to  find  it  plentiful  in 
portions  of  Ontario. 


GRAY-CHEEKED  THRUSH. 

ALICE'S  THRUSH. 
TURUUS   ALICLE. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  cheeks  grayish ;  beneath,  white ;  sides  tinged 
with  olive ;  throat  and  breast  tinged  with  buff  and  marked  with  large  dark 
spots.     Length  7  to  7;^^  inches. 

A^fst.  In  a  low  bush  or  on  the  ground ;  of  grass  and  leaves,  etc., 
lined  with  fine  grass. 

•^A'S'-'''     3*4  »  greenish  blue  spotted  with  brown  ;  0.90  X  0.70. 

After  much  contention  as  to  the  v  lidity  of  Alice's  Thrush  as  a 
variety  of  the  Olive-backed,  the  systematists  have  decided  to  give  it 


jLi  rill       ■    ■ 


212 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


specific  rank.  In  appearance  it  differs  from  swainsonii  chiefly  in 
lacking  the  yellow  around  the  eye,  and  in  having  gray  instead  of 
buff  cheeks.    Alicia  is  also  a  trifle  the  larger  of  the  two. 

The  distribution  of  the  present  species  has  not  yet  been  thor- 
oughly worked  out,  for  only  a  few  years  have  passed  since  its 
discovery ;  but  it  is  known  to  occur  in  the  United  States  and  the 
settled  portions  of  Canada  as  a  migrant  only,  breeding  north  to 
the  Arctic,  and  wintering  south  to  Costa  Rica. 


BICKNELL'S  THRUSH. 

TURDUS   \UC\m   BICKNELLI. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  varying  from  a  grayish  to  a  russet  tint;  wings 
and  tail  slightly  browner  than  back  ;  distinct  ring  of  pale  buff  around  the 
eyes;  cheeks  huffish;  beneath,  white,  tinged  with  olive  on  the  sides; 
throat  and  breast  tinged  with  buff  and  marked  with  large  dark  spots. 
Length  7  to  lYz  inches. 

Alest.  On  the  ground,  in  a  thicket ;  composed  of  twigs,  grass,  and  moss, 
lined  with  grass. 

^SS^-     3~4  ;  pale  blueish  green  speckled  with  brown  ;  0.85  X  0.65. 

This  variety  of  the  Gray-cheeked  Thrush  was  discovered  by 
Mr.  Eugene  P.  Bicknell  amid  the  Catskill  Mountains  in  1885.  It 
has  been  found  on  all  the  higher  ranges  of  Eastern  America  and 
in  Illinois,  and  Mr.  Langille  claims  to  have  discovered  the  nest 
on  an  island  off  the  southern  coast  of  Nova  Scotia. 


WATER  THRUSH. 

WATER  WAGTAIL. 
Seiurus  NOVEBORACENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  deep  olive  brown  ;  line  over  the  eye  whitish ;  beneath, 
white  tinged  with  bright  yellow,  and  shotted  with  olive.  Length  t^z  to 
6  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  in  border  of  swamp  or  stream;  bulky,  and 
loosely  made  of  moss,  leaves,  and  grass,  lined  with  roots.  Sometimes 
deeply  imbedded  in  moss,  or  covered  with  it. 

Et:^s.  4-6 ;  white,  spotted,  most  heavily  near  the  larger  end,  with 
brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  o  55. 


WATER  THRUSH. 


213 


This  shy  and  retiring  sylvan  species  extends  its  suramer 
migrations  throughout  the  United  States,  breeding  rarely  in 
Pennsylvania,  proceeding  principally  to  the  western  and 
northern  regions  at  the  period  of  incubation.  Mr.  Townsend 
and  myself  observed  this  bird  in  Oregon,  as  well  as  in  Missouri, 
where  it  was,  no  doubt,  breeding,  and  sung  in  a  very  lively 
manner,  keeping  in  a  shady  wood  which  bordered  a  small 
stream,  often  descending  to  the  ground  after  aquatic  insects  or 
larvae,  and  with  the  tail  in  a  constant  balancing  motion,  re- 
minding u  •  strongly  of  ihe  Wagtail  or  Motacilla  of  Europe. 

The  Aquatic  Thrush  has,  indeed,  a  particular  partiality  for 
the  vicinity  of  waters,  wading  in  the  shallow  streams  in  search 
of  insects,  moving  its  tail  as  it  leisurely  follows  its  pursuit,  and 
chattering  as  it  flies.  During  its  transient  migrating  visits  it  is 
very  timid,  and  darts  into  the  thickets  as  soon  as  approached, 
uttering  a  sharp  and  rather  plaintive  tship'  of  alarm.  About 
the  beginning  of  May,  these  birds  appear  in  Pennsylvania  from 
the  South,  and  stay  around  dark  and  solitary  streams  for  ten 
or  twelve  days,  and  then  disappear  until  about  the  middle  of 
August,  when,  on  their  way  to  their  tropical  winter  quarters, 
they  leave  the  swamps  and  mountains  of  their  summer  retreat, 
and,  after  again  gleaning  a  transient  subsistence  for  a  few  days 
towards  the  sea-coast,  depart  for  the  season.  In  Massachu- 
setts they  are  scarcely  ever  seen  except  in  the  autumn,  and 
continue  in  shady  gardens,  probably  feeding  on  small  wild 
berries  till  nearly  the  close  of  September. 

It  appears,  according  to  Wilson,  that  the  favorite  resort  of 
this  species  is  in  the  cane-brakes,  swamps,  river  shores,  and 
watery  solitudes  of  Louisiana,  Tennessee,  and  Mississippi. 
Here  it  is  abundant,  and  is  eminently  distinguished  by  the 
loudness,  sweetness,  and  expressive  vivacity  of  its  notes,  which, 
beginning  h.'gh  and  clear,  flew  and  descend  in  a  cadence  so 
delicate  as  to  terminate  in  sounds  that  are  scarcely  audible. 
At  such  times  the  singer  sits  perched  on  some  branch  which 
stretches  impending  over  the  flowing  stream,  and  pours  out  his 
charming  melody  with  such  elTect  as  to  be  heard  at  the  dis- 
tance of  nearly  half  a  mile,  giving  a  peculiar  charm  to  the  dark 


214 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


and  solitary  wilds  he  inhabits.  The  silence  of  night  is  also,  at 
times,  relieved  by  the  incessant  warble  of  this  Western  Philo- 
mel, whose  voice,  breaking  upon  the  ear  of  the  lonely  traveller 
in  the  wilderness,  seems  like  the  dulcet  lay  of  something  super- 
natural. His  song  is  also  heard  in  the  winter  when  the 
weather  proves  mild.  In  this  habit  he  appears  considerably 
allied  to  the  Ree  1  Thrush  or  River  Nightingale  of  Europe, 
which  night  and  day  almost  ceaselessly  sings,  and  soothes  his 
sitting  mate,  among  the  reeds  and  marshes  of  his  favorite 
resorts. 

Since  Nutt Ts  day  the  Water  Thrui  ■  hrs  been  separated  from 
the  true  Thrushes  and  classed  with  the  'j1      .     The  birds  seen 

by  Wilson  and  Audubon  in  Louisiana,  1.  lesset  ?nd  Mississippi 
were  doubtless  referable  to  motacilla,  for  tnough  i' •  present  spe- 
cies is  found  throughout  this  Eastern  Province,  west  to  Illinois  and 
Manitoba,  it  seldom  has  been  discovered  breed!  n;:  south  of  45°.  It 
is  a  rather  common  spring  and  autumn  visitor  to  Massachusetts. 

On  the  plains  the  type  is  replaced  by  the  variety  named  notabilis^ 
—  Grinnell's  Water  Thrush, — which  is  larger  and  darker. 
Notabilis  occurs  occasionally  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 


LOUISIANA   WATER  THRUSH. 

Seiurus  motacilla. 

Char.  Similar  to  nmehoracensis,  but  larger,  and  bill  longer  and  stouter. 
Under  parts  tinged  with  huff,  but  never  with  bright  yellow ;  throat  free 
from  spots.     Length  5^  to  6»^  inches. 

N'est.  On  the  ground,  hidden  amid  roots  of  fallen  tree,  or  on  a  mossy 
bank  ;  composed  of  leaves,  grass,  and  moss,  lined  with  grass  and  hair. 

E,zsfs.  4-(');  white,  sometimes  with  creamy  tint,  speckled  with  brown 
and  lilac;  075  X060. 

The  range  of  this  species  extends  from  southern  New  England 
and  the  Great  Lakes  (in  summer)  to  the  Gulf  States  and  Central 
America  (in  winter).  A  few  pairs  are  seen  every  season  in  southern 
Ontario.     Its  habits  do  not  differ  from  those  of  its  congener. 


fmnBmiTTinHTfvtB'  . 


MjaaateM^aMj- 


Ji 


^$ 


OVEN    BIRD. 

goldex-crowned  thrush. 

Seiurus  aurocapillus. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  crown  orange-brown,  bordered  with  black  stripes, 
white  ring  around  the  eyes ;  beneath,  white,  spotted  with  olive.  Length 
SK  to  0^2  inches. 

A^est.  On  iiie  ground,  nt  the  foot  of  a  tree  or  in  the  moss  on  a  decayed 
log  ;  rather  loosely  made  of  twigs,  grass,  leaves,  and  moss,  lined  with  fine 
grass  and  hair.  The  top  is  often  completely  roofed,  sometimes  .arched  or 
domed ;  the  entrance  vsr.  the  side. 

■^^^■^-     4~6 ;  creamy  white,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac  ;  o.So  X  o.  55. 

This  rather  common  bird,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  tnie 
Thrushes,  is  found  throughout  the  forests  of  the  United  States, 
Canada,  and  in  the  i;erritory  of  Oregon  during  the  summer, 
arriving  in  the  Mi'ldle  and  Northern  States  about  the  beginning 
of  May  or  close  of  April,  and  departing  for  tropical  America, 
Mexico,  and  the  larger  West  India  islands  early  in  September. 

The  Golden-crowned  Thrush,  shy  and  retiring,  is  never  seen 
out  of  the  shade  of  the  woods,  and  sits  and  runs  along  the 
ground  often  like  the  Lark;  it  also  frequents  the  branches  of 
trees,  and  sometimes  moves  its  tail  in  the  manner  of  the  ^V'ag- 
tails.  It  has  few  pretensions  to  song,  and  while  perched  in 
the  deep  and  shady  part  of  the  forest,  it  utters,  at  interwils,  a 
simple,  long,  reiterated  note  of  7j7/V  ^s/i^  tshe  tshe  tshe,  rising 
from  low  to  high  and  shrill,  so  as  to  give  but  little  idea  of  the 
distance  or  place  from  whence  the  sound  proceeds,  and  often 
appearing,  from  the  loudness  of  the  closing  cadence,  to  be  much 


i     't 

'  f 


2l6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


nearer  than  it  really  is.     As  soon  as  discovered,  like  the  Wood 
Thrush,  it  darts  at  once  timidly  into  the  depths  of  its  sylvan 
retreat.     During  the  period  of  incubation,  the  deliberate  lay 
of  the  male,  from  some  horizontal  branch  of  the  forest  tree, 
where  it  often  sits  usually  still,  is  a  */she  te  tshe  te  tshe  te  tshee, 
gradually  rising  and  growing  louder.     Towards  dusk  in  the 
evening,  however,  it  now  and  then  utters  a  sudden  burst  of 
notes  with  a  short,  agreeable  warble,  which  terminates  com- 
monly in  thr  usual  Ushe  te  tshe.     Its  curious  oven-shaped  nest 
is  known  to  all  the  sportsmen  who  traverse  the  solitary  wilds 
which  it  inhabits.     This  ingenious  fabric  is  sunk  a  little  into  the 
ground,  and  generally  situated  on  some  dry  and  mossy  bank 
contiguous  to  bushes,  or  on  an  uncleared  surface  ;  it  is  formed, 
with  great  neatness,  of  dry  blades  of  grass,  and  lined  with  the 
same  ;  it  is  then  surmounted  by  a  thick  inclined  roof  of  simi- 
lar materials,  the  surface  scattered  with  leaves  and  twigs  so  as 
to  match  the  rest  of  the  ground,  and  an  entrance  is  left  at  the 
side.     Near  Milton  hills,  in  this  vicinity,  the  situation  chosen 
was  among  low  whortleberry  bushes,  in  a  stunted  cedar  and 
oak  grove.     When  surprised,  the  bird  escapes,  or  nms  from  the 
nest  with  the  silence  and  celerity  of  a  mouse.     If  an  attempt 
be  made  to  discover  the  nest  from  which  she  is  flushed,  she 
stops,  flutters,  and  pretends  lameness,  and  watching  the  success 
of  the  manoeuvre,  at  length,  when  the  decoy  seems  complete, 
she  takes  to  wing  and  disappears.     The  Oven  Bird  is  another 
of  the  foster-parents  sometimes  chosen  by  the  Cow  Troopial ; 
and  she  rears  the  foundling  with  her  accustomed  care  and 
affection,  and  keeps  up  an  incessant  tship  when  her  unfledged 
brood  are  even  distantly  approached.     These  birds  have  often 
two  broods  in  a  season  in  the  Middle  States.     Their  food  is 
wholly  insects  and  their  larvae,  particularly  small  coleopterous 
kinds  and  ants,  chiefly  collected  on  the  ground. 

The  Oven  Bird,  like  the  Water  Thrush,  has  been  removed  by 
modern  authorities  from  classification  with  the  Thrush  family  and 
placed  with  the  Warblers.  It  is  now  known  to  breed  from  Virginia 
and  the  Ohio  valley  to  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay.  It  is  abund- 
ant in  Massachusetts  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  common 
over  its  entire  range. 


MYRTLE   WARBLER. 


217 


MYRTLE  WARBLER. 

VELLOW-RUMP  WARBLER.    YELLOW-CROWNED  WARBLER. 

Dendroica  CORONATA. 

Char.  Male :  above,  bluish  gray  streaked  with  black  ;  sides  of  head 
black ;  breast  and  sides  mostly  black  ;  patches  of  yellow  on  crown  and 
rump  and  sides  of  breast ;  throat  and  belly  white  ;  wing-bars  and  patches 
on  tail  white.  Female,  young,  and  male  in  winter:  similar,  but  the  back 
with  a  tint  of  brown  in  place  of  blue,  and  all  colors  duller,  and  markings 
less  distinct.     Length  £  to  6  inches. 

A'est.  In  a  coniferous  tree  5  to  10  feet  from  the  ground,  in  a  pasture  or 
open  grove  of  woodland;  composed  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  fine 
grass,  sometimes  with  feathers. 

Ei^^i^s.  4-5  ;  dull  white  or  creamy  white,  spotted  chiefly  around  the 
larger  end  with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

The  history  of  this  rather  common  Warbler  remains  very 
imperfect.  In  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  it  is  a  bird  of 
passage,  arriving  from  the  South  about  the  close  of  April  or 
beginning  of  May,  and  proceeding  north  as  far  as  Canada  and 
Labrador  to  pass  the  summer  season  in  the  cares  of  breeding 
and  rearing  the  young!  As  early  as  the  30th  of  August,  or  after 
an  absence  of  little  more  than  three  months,  these  birds  again 
appear ;  and  being  hardy,  passing  parties  continue  with  us  in 
gardens  and  woods  till  about  the  close  of  November,  feeding 
now  almost  exclusively  on  the  myrtle-wax  berries  i^Myrica  ccri- 
fera),  or  on  those  of  the  Virginian  juniper.  These,  other  late 
and  persisting  berries,  and  occasional  insects,  constitute  their 
winter  food  in  the  Southern  States,  where,  in  considerable  num- 
bers, in  the  swamps  and  sheltered  groves  of  the  sea-coast,  they 
pass  the  cold  season.  In  fine  weather,  in  the  early  part  of  Oc- 
tober, they  may  be  seen,  at  times,  collecting  grasshoppers  and 
moths  from  the  meadows  and  pastures,  and,  like  the  Blue  Bird, 
they  often  watch  for  the  appearance  of  their  prey  from  a  neigh- 
boring stake,  low  bough,  or  fence-rail  and  at  this  time  are  so 
familiar  and  unsuspicious,  particularly  the  young,  as  fearlessly 
to  approach  almost  within  the  reach  of  the  silent  spectator.     At 


2l8 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


the  period  of  migraiion,  they  appear  in  an  altered  and  less 
brilliant  dress.  'I'he  bright  yellow  spot  on  the  crown  is  now 
ed^cd  with  brownish  olive,  so  that  the  prevailing  color  of  this 
beautiful  mark  is  only  seen  on  shedding  the  feathers  with  the 
hand  ;  a  brownish  tint  is  also  added  to  the  whole  plumage.  But 
Wilson's  figure  of  lliis  supposed  autumnal  change  only  repre- 
sents the  young  bird.  The  old  is,  in  fact,  but  little  less  brilliant 
than  in  summer,  and  I  have  a  well-founded  suspicion  that  the 
wearing  of  the  edges  of  the  feathers,  or  some  other  secondary 
cause,  alone  produces  this  change  in  the  livery  of  spring,  par- 
ticularly as  it  is  not  any  sexual  distinction. 

While  feeding  they  are  very  active,  in  the  manner  of  Fly- 
catchers, hovering  among  the  cedars  and  myrtles  with  hanging 
wings,  and  only  rest  when  satisfied  with  gleaning  food.  In 
spring  they  are  still  more  timid,  busy,  and  restless.  According 
to  Audubon,  the  nest  and  eggs  are  scarcely  to  be  distinguished 
from  those  of  Sylvia  (estiva ;  one  which  he  examined  from 
Nova  Scotia  was  made  in  the  extremity  of  the  branch  of  a  low 
fir-tree,  about  five  feet  from  the  ground.  When  approached, 
or  while  feeding,  they  only  utter  a  feeble,  plaintive  tship  of 
alarm.  This  beautiful  species  arrives  here  about  the  7th  or 
8th  of  May,  and  now  chiefly  frequents  the  orchards,  uttering 
at  short  intervals,  in  the  morning,  a  sweet  and  varied,  rather 
I  iaintive  warble,  resembling  in  part  the  song  of  the  Summer 
Yellow  Bird,  but  much  more  the  farewell,  solitary  autumnal 
notes  of  the  Robin  Redbreast  of  Europe.  The  tones  at  times 
are  also  so  ventriloquial  and  variable  in  elevation  that  it  is  not 
always  easy  to  ascertain  the  spot  whence  they  proceed.  While 
thus  engaged  in  quest  of  small  caterpillars,  the  Myrtle  seems 
almost  insensible  to  obtrusion,  and  familiarly  searches  for  its 
prey,  however  near  we  may  approach. 

The  "  Yellow-rump  "  —  by  which  name  this  species  is  best  known 
—  breeds  regularly  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  and  north- 
ward to  southern  Labrador.  It  is  an  abundant  summer  resident  of 
the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  elsewhere,  in  the  settled  portions  of 
Canada,  occurs  as  a  mijtjrant  only.  It  winters  regularly  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  central  Ohio,  and  thence  southward  as  far  as  Central 
America. 


H 


^ 


I 


t 

i; 
.  i 


YELLOW   PALM    VVAKBLER. 


219 


t 


^ 


YELLOW   PALM   WARBLER. 

VELLUW   REU-l'OLL  VVAKliLEK. 
DeNDROICA    I'ALAUKL'iM    HYPOCHRVSEA. 

C  HAR.  Above,  brownish  olive  ;  rump  yellowish,  dusky  streaks  on  the 
back  ;  crown  chestnut ;  line  over  eye  and  under  parts  rich  yellow  ;  hie.ist 
and  sides  streaked  with  brown;  no  white  wing  bars;  square  patches  of 
white  on  two  pairs  ot  outer  tail-leathers.     Length  5  to  5^4  inches 

Aest.  Un  the  ground  on  border  ot  swamp;  loosely  made  of  grass, 
weeds,  and  moss  fastened  with  caterpillar's  silk,  lined  with  roots,  hair, 
pine-needles,  or  feathers. 

AcC-*'  4-5 ;  trcamy  white,  sometimes  with  roseate  tinge,  marked  on 
larger  end  with  fine  spots  of  brown  and  lilac ;  0.C3  X  0.50. 

The  Yellow  Re<l-polls  in  small  numbers  arrive  in  the  Middle 
and  Northern  States  in  the  month  of  April ;  many  proceed  as 
far  as  Labrador,  where  they  were  seen  in  summer  by  Audubon, 
and  in  the  month  of  August  the  young  were  generally  fledged. 
In  the  Southern  States  they  are  abundant  in  winter.  While 
here,  like  many  other  transient  passengers  of  the  family,  they 
appear  extremely  busy  in  quest  of  their  restless  insect  prey. 
They  frequent  low,  swampy  thickets,  are  rare,  and  their  few 
feeble  notes  are  said  scarcely  to  deserve  the  name  of  a  song. 
These  stragglers  remain  all  summer  in  Pennsylvania,  but  the 
nest  is  unknown.  They  depart  in  September  or  early  in  Octo- 
ber, and  some  probably  winter  in  the  southernmost  States,  as 
they  were  met  with  in  Febniar)',  by  Wilson,  near  Savannah. 
This  is  a  diflerent  species  from  the  Palm  Warbler,  which  prob- 
ably does  not  exist  in  the  United  States. 

This  bird  appears  yet  to  be  very  little  known.  Pennant  has 
most  strangely  blended  up  its  description  with  that  of  the 
Ruby-crowned  Wren !  his  supposed  female  being  precisely 
that  bird. 

The  Eastern  form  of  the  Palm  Warbler  is  a  common  bird  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi  alley,  where  it  is  replaced  by  true 
palmarum.  The  Eastern  bird  is  abundant  in  summer  in  northern 
Maine  and  New  Brunswick,  and  Aububon  considered  it  common 
in  Labrador,  though  late  observers  there  have  rarely  found  it. 


220 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Mr.  Neilson  thinks  it  uncommon  near  Dornald,  Quebec,  and 
says  lie  never  sees  a  specimen  later  than  June  ist.  Dr.  Whfaton 
has  reported  it  as  a  common  migrant  tlirough  Ohio,  but  it  is  re- 
ported rare  in  Ontario.  Nuttall's  statement,  borrowed  from  Wilson, 
that  some  remained  in  Pennsylvania  during  the  breeding  season, 
has  not  been  contirnu.J  by  more  recent  observations.  It  winters  in 
the  Soutiiern  and  (Julf  States. 

In  habits  this  species  stands  peculiar.  Unlilf  other  Dendroica,  it 
nests  on  the  ground,  and  unlike  nil  othot  Warblers,  it  shows  a 
strong  preference  for  fields  and  road-sides,  where  it  may  be  found 
hopping  along  with  the  Sparrows,  and  'Girting  its  tail  like  a  Titlark. 

The  song  \t  a  very  simple  affair,  -    a  few  sweet  notes. 


Note.  —  The  Palm  Wakijler  {Dendroicn  palmaruni)  differs 
from  hypochryaca  m  being  t;n'.aller  and  much  duller  colored.  It  is 
usually  restricted  to  the  Mississippi  valley;  but  some  winter  in 
Florida,  and  occasionally  a  solitary  straggler  has  been  seen  in  the 
Atlantic  States. 

AinunoN's  Warbler  {Dendroica  auduboni),  though  a  bird  of 
the  Western  Plains,  has  a  right  to  mention  here  through  one  exam- 
ple having  been  taken  in  Cambridge,  Mass. 


X 


VI'.LLOW  WARELER. 

SUMMER    VELLOW  BIRD.    SUMMER   WARBLER,    ^-f  O..^^^  try-JA/C 


Df.NDROICA   i^sSTIVA. 


/^V     ^9c    ^ 


Char.  General  color  golden  yellow,  upper  parts  tinged  with  olive  ; 
breast  and  sides  streaked  with  <)r.ii\c;e  brown.    Length  4,' 2  to  5)4  inches. 

Aist.  On  a  bush  or  low  tree,  in  a  garden  or  open  pasture  ;  gracefully 
formed  an<l  co'npactly  woven,  of  various  vegetable  fibres,  —  grass,  stems, 
etc.,  —  usual!)  ,ined  with  hair  or  plant  down,  sometimes  with  fcatliers. 

■'^vC-f  3~5 ;  dull  white  or  greenish  white,  marked  chiefly  around  the 
larger  end  with  brown  and  IMac;  0.65  X  0.45. 

This  very  common  and  brilliant  summer  species  is  found  in 
all  parts  of  the  .American  continent,  from  the  confines  of  the 
Arctic  circle  to  I'lorida  and  Texas,  as  well  as  Oregon  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  where  it  spends  the  mild  season.  About 
the  miildle  of  March  I  already  heard  tlie  song  amidst  the 


1%.  I 


YELLOW   WARHLER. 


221 


v^ 


'9c    ju 


•VlB 


early  blooming  thickets  and  leafy  woods  of  the  Altamaha  ;  but 
the  birds  do  not  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  this  part  of  New 
England  before  the  i  st  of  May.  About  the  close  of  August  in 
the  Northern,  and  by  the  middle  of  September  in  the  Central 
States  of  the  Union,  or  as  soon  as  their  second  brood  are  capa- 
ble of  joining  the  migrating  host,  they  disappear,  probably  in 
the  twilight,  and  wing  their  way  by  easy  stages  to  their  trop- 
ical destination,  passing  through  Louisiana  in  October  and 
appearing  at  length  about  Vera  Cruz,  whence  they  spread  their 
numerous  host  through  tropical  America  to  Guiana,  Cayenne, 
St.  Uomingo,  and  other  of  the  larger  contiguous  islands  of  the 
West  Indies. 

This  is  a  very  lively,  unsuspicious,  and  almost  familiar  little 
bird,  and  its  bright  golden  color  renders  it  very  conspicuous, 
as  in  pursuit  of  flitting  insects  it  pries  and  darts  among  the 
blooming  shrubs  and  orchards.  It  is  particularly  attached  to 
willow-trees  and  other  kinds  in  moist  and  shady  situations,  that 
afford  this  and  other  species  a  variety  of  small  larvae  and  cater- 
pillars, on  which  they  delight  to  feed.  While  incessantly  and 
busily  employed  it  occasionally  mounts  the  twig,  and  with  a 
loud,  shrill,  and  almost  piercing  voice  it  earnestly  utters,  at  short 
and  irregular  intervals,  —  ^tsh^  ^tsJi'  Ush^  'fsh^  ^fs/iaia,  or  tshc  tshe 
tsh  tshayia  tshe  tshe  ;  this  last  phrase  rather  plaintive  and  inter- 
rogatory, as  if  expecting  the  recognition  of  its  rnate.  Some- 
times, but  particularly  after  the  commencement  of  incubation, 
a  more  extended  and  pleasingly  modulated  song  is  heard,  as  se 
te  te  tshltshoo,  or  tsh''  tsh'  tsh'  isheetshoo,  'tshe  'tshe  'tshe  'tshoo 
'peetshee,  and  'tshe  'tshe  'tshe  'tshe  'tshdia  'tship  o  wZiy  ;  the  ter- 
mination tender,  plaintive,  and  solicitous.  I  have  heard  this 
note  also  sometimes  varied  to  'soit  'soit  'soit  'soit  ^ tship  a  wee. 
The  female  sometimes  sings  nearly  as  well  as  the  male,  partic- 
ularly about  the  time  she  is  engaged  in  fabricating  her  nest. 
Although  the  song  of  these  birds  may  be  heard,  less  vigorously, 
to  the  month  of  August,  yet  they  do  not  here  appear  to  raise 
more  than  a  single  brood. 

The  nest,  in  Massachusetts,  is  commonly  fixed  in  the  forks 
of  a  barberry  bush,  close  shrub,  or  sapling,  a  few  feet  from  the 


222 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ground  ;  at  other  times,  I  have  known  the  nest  placed  upon  the 
horizontal  branch  of  a  hornbeam,  more  than  15  feet  from 
the  ground,  or  even  50  feet  high  in  the  forks  of  a  thick  sugar- 
maple  or  orchard  tree.  These  lofty  situations  are,  however, 
extraordinary ;  and  the  little  architects,  in  instances  of  this 
kind,  sometimes  fail  of  giving  the  usual  security  to  their  habita- 
tion. The  nest  is  extremely  neat  and  tlurable  ;  the  exterior  is 
formed  of  layers  of  AsclepiaSy  or  silk-weed  lint,  glutinously 
though  slightly  attached  to  the  supporting  twigs,  mixed  with 
some  slender  strips  of  fine  bark  and  pine  leaves,  and  thickly 
bedded  with  the  down  of  willows,  the  nankeen-wool  of  the  Vir- 
ginian cotton-grass,  the  down  of  fern-stalks,  the  hair  from  the 
downy  seeds  of  the  buttonwood  {Platanus),  or  the  pappus  of 
compound  flowers ;  and  then  lined  either  with  fine-bent  grass 
(Ai^fvs/is) ,  or  down,  and  horse-hair,  and  rarely  with  a  few  acci- 
dental feathers.  Circumstances  sometimes  require  a  variation 
from  the  usual  habits  of  the  species.  In  :.  garden  in  Roxbury, 
in  the  vicinity  of  IJoston,  I  saw  a  nest  built  in  a  currant-bush, 
in  a  small  garden  very  near  to  the  house ;  and  as  the  branch 
did  not  present  the  jjroper  site  of  security,  a  large  floor  of  dry 
grass  and  weeds  was  first  made  betwixt  it  and  a  contiguous 
board  fence  ;  in  the  midst  of  this  mass  of  extraneous  materials, 
the  small  nest  was  excavated,  then  lined  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  white  horse-hair,  and  finished  with  an  interior  bed 
of  soft  cow-hair.  The  season  proving  wet  and  stormy,  the 
nest  in  this  novel  situation  fell  over,  but  was  carried,  with  the 
young  to  n  safe  situation  near  the  piazza  of  the  house,  where 
the  parents  now  fed  and  reared  their  brood.  The  labor  of 
forming  the  nest  seems  often  wholly  to  devolve  on  the  female. 
On  the  loth  of  May  I  observed  one  of  these  industrious  matrons 
busily  engaged  with  her  fabric  in  a  low  barberry  bush,  and  by 
the  evening  of  the  second  day  the  whole  was  completed,  to  the 
lining,  which  was  made,  at  length,  of  hair  and  willow  down,  of 
which  she  collected  and  carried  mouthfuls  so  large  that  she 
often  appeared  almost  like  a  mass  of  flying  cotton,  and  far  ex- 
ceeded in  industry  her  active  neighbor,  the  Haltimore,  who 
was  also  engaged  in  collecting  the  same  materials.     Notwith- 


% 


YELLOW   WARHLER. 


223 


I 


Standing  this  industry,  the  completion  of  the  nest,  with  this  and 
other  small  birds,  is  sometimes  strangely  protracted  or  not  im- 
mediately required.  Yet  occasionally  I  have  found  the  eggs 
of  this  species  improvidently  laid  on  the  ground.  It  is  amus- 
ing tu  observe  the  sagacity  of  this  little  bird  in  disposing  of  the 
eggs  of  the  vagrant  and  parasitic  Cow  Troopial.  The  egg.  de- 
posited before  the  laying  of  the  rightful  tenant,  too  large  for 
ejectment,  is  ingeniously  incarcerated  in  the  bottom  of  the 
nest,  and  a  new  lining  placed  above  it,  so  that  it  is  never 
hatched  to  prove  the  dragon  of  the  brood.  Two  instances  of 
this  kind  occurred  to  the  observation  of  my  friend  Mr.  Charles 
Pickering;  and  in  1833  I  obtained  a  nest  with  the  adventi- 
tious egg  about  two  thirds  buried,  the  upper  edge  only  being 
visible,  so  that  in  many  instances  it  is  probr.ble  that  this  spe- 
cies escapes  from  the  unpleasant  imi)osition  of  becoming  a 
nurse  to  the  sable  orphan  of  the  Cow  Bird.  She  however 
acts  faithfully  the  part  of  a  foster-parent  when  the  egg  is  laid 
after  her  own. 

I  have  heard  of  two  instances  in  which  three  of  the  Vellow 
Bird's  own  eggs  were  covered  along  with  that  of  the  Cow 
Blackbird.  In  a  third,  after  a  Blackbird's  egg  had  been  thus 
conccpled,  a  second  was  laid,  which  was  similarly  treated,  thus 
final'    giving  rise  to  a  three-storied  nest. 

1  ^  Summer  Yellow  Bird,  to  attract  attention  from  its  nest, 
when  sitting,  or  when  the  nest  contains  young,  sometimes 
feigns  lameness,  hanging  its  tail  and  head,  and  fluttering  feebly 
along,  in  the  path  of  the  spectator ;  at  other  times,  when  cer- 
tain that  the  intrusion  had  proved  harmless,  the  bird  would 
only  go  off  a  few  feet,  utter  a  feeble  comjjlaint,  or  remain 
wholly  silent,  and  almost  instantly  resume  her  seat.  The  male, 
as  in  many  other  e:pecies  of  the  genus,  precedes  a  little  the  arri- 
val of  his  mate.  Towards  the  latter  end  of  summer  the  young 
and  old  feed  much  on  juicy  fruits,  as  mulberries,  cornel  berries, 
and  other  kinds. 

The  habitat  of  the  present  form  is  not  extended  beyond  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Rockies  ;  westward  from  that  line  it  is  replaced 
by  rnorcomi,  a  much  paler  race. 


It 


ft! 


224  SINGING  BIRDS. 


MACiNOLlA  WARBLKR. 

ILACK-A N'D-YELLOW  WARBLER. 

Dendroica  maculosa. 

Char.  Ma'e  :  back  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  olive  ;  rump  yel- 
low; crown  ash,  bordered  by  black  and  white;  l)cneath,  rich  yellow, 
thickly  spotted  on  breast  and  sides  with  black ;  wiriL',  bars  and  tail-patches 
white.  Female  :  similar,  but  colors  duller,  and  back  sometimes  entirely 
olive. 

A''i\if.  On  a  horizontal  branch  of  spruce  or  fir,  usually  3  to  6  feet  from 
the  ground,  but  sometimes  hiyhci  ;  made  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with 
fine  black  roots. 

E,L,%'.t.  J.-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of 
brown  ;  0.(10  X  0.50. 

This  rate  and  beautiful  species  is  occasionally  seen  in  very 
small  numbers  in  the  Southern,  Middle,  and  Northern  States,  in 
the  spring  stason,  on  its  way  to  its  Northern  breeding- j)laces. 
In  Massachusetts  I  have  seen  it  in  this  vicinity  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May.  Its  return  to  the  South  is  probably  made  through 
the  western  interior,  —  a  route  so  generally  travelled  by  most  of 
our  birds  of  passage  at  this  season ;  in  consequence  of  which 
they  are  not  met  with,  or  but  very  rarely,  in  the  Atlantic  States 
in  autumn.  In  this  season  they  have  been  seen  at  sea  off  ih. 
island  of  Jamaica,  and  have  been  met  with  also  in  Flispaniola, 
whither  they  retire  to  pass  the  winter.  T.ikc  all  the  rest  of  the 
genus,  stimulated  by  the  unquiet  propensity  to  migrate,  they 
pass  only  a  few  days  with  us,  and  appear  perpetually  en'i 'u^td 
in  pursuing  or  searching  out  their  active  inse»:t  prey  or  Iap-;ia ; 
and  while  thus  engaged,  utter  only  a  few  chirping  notes.  The 
Magnolia  has  a  shrill  song,  more  than  usually  protracted  on  the 
approach  of  wet  weather,  so  that  the  Indians  bestow  upon  it 
the  name  of  Rain  Bird.  According  to  Audubon,  many  of 
these  birds  breed  in  Maine  and  the  British  Provinces,  -s  well 
as  in  Labrador,  and  extend  their  summer  residence  to  the 
banks  of  the  Saskatchewan.  They  have  also  a  clear  and  sweetly 
modulated  sonpr. 

Although  r.-i-:'  in  the  United  States,  it  appears,  according  to 
Richardson,  that  this  elegan    species  is  a  common  bird  on  the 


MAGNOLIA   WARBLER. 


>  • 


225 


banks  of  the  Saskatchewan^  where  it  is  a.-,  familiar  as  chc  coni- 
inon  Summer  Yellow  Bird  {S.  tesiua),  which  it  also  resembles 
cloiiely  in  its  manners  and  in  its  breeding  station,  but  is  gifted 
with  a  more  varied  and  agreeable  song.  It  frec^uents  the 
thickets  of  young  spruce-trees  and  willows,  flitting  from  branch 
to  branch,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  ground,  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  capture  of  winged  insects,  which  now  constitute 
its  principal  fare. 

The  Magnolia  is  not  so  rare  a  bird  as  Nuttall  supposed,  — indeed, 
it  is  common  everywhere  between  the  Atlantic  and  the  eastern 
base  of  the  Rockies,  breeding  in  northern  New  Kn<^land  and  in 
the  northern  portions  of  New  York,  Ohio,  and  Michigan,  and 
thence  to  Labrador  and  Great  Slave  Lake. 

In  Massachusetts  it  is  chiefly  a  spring  and  autumn  visitor,  though 
Mr.  William  Hrewstcr  found  a  few  pairs  nesting  in  the  Berkshire 
Hills.     It  winters  in  Central  America,  Cuba,  and  the  Bahamas. 

In  its  habits  this  bird  combines  the  Creeper  and  the  Klycatciicr 
in  true  Warbler  fashion,  picking  insects  and  larva;  from  the  cran- 
nies of  the  bark  and  from  the  leaves,  and  capturing  on  the  wing  the 
flying  mites.  Tlie  favorite  nesting  site  is  the  border  of  a  wood 
or  an  open  pasture,  though  I  have  found  nests  in  the  deep  forest, 
usually  on  the  margin  of  an  open  glade. 

The  .song  is  Warbler-like  in  its  simplicity,  yet  is  an  attractive 
melody,  the  tones  sweet  and  musical. 

Nuttall's  idea  that  the  autumn  route  of  migration  taken  by  more 
northern  breeding  birds  lies  somewhere  to  the  westward  of  New 
England,  is  not  consistent  with  more  recent  ob.servation  ;  for  while 
it  is  true  that  large  numbers  follow  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  — 
som.e  of  them  crossing  to  the  Atlantic  when  south  of  the  Alleuha- 
nies,  —  it  has  also  been  ascertained  that  immense  flights  of  birds 
tliat  breed  in  the  interior  go  southward  along  the  coast-line.  Many 
species  that  are  not  seen  in  New  England  during  the  spring  migra- 
tion are  abundant  in  the  autumn. 


VOL.    I. 


•5 


226 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


CAPE  MAY  WARBLER. 

DhNDROICA   TIGRINA. 

Char.  Male :  back  yellowish  olive,  with  darker  spots ;  crown  blackish; 
ear-patch  chestnut ;  line  from  bill  around  the  eyes  black ;  rump  yellow, 
wing-bars  white  and  fused  into  one  large  patch ;  white  blotches  on  three 
pairs  oi"  tail-feathers  ;  beneath,  yellow  tinged  wi»h  orange  on  chin  and 
throat,  spotted  with  black  on  breast  and  sides.  Female  :  similar,  but 
back  grayish,  and  lacking  distinctive  marking  on  head ;  under  parts  paler ; 
spots  on  wings  and  tail  smaller  or  obscure. 

i\V.i/.  In  a  pasture  or  open  woodland,  on  low  branch  of  snu.ll  tree;  a 
neat,  cup-shaped  structure,  partially  pensile,  composed  of  twigs  and  grass 
fastened  with  spider's  webbing,  lined  with  horsehair. 

E^i;^^s.  3-4  ;  dull  white  or  buffy,  slightly  specked,  and  wreathed  around 
larger  end  with  spots  of  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  very  rare  \\'arbler  has  only  been  seen  near  the  swamps 
of  Cape  May  hy  Edward  Harris,  Esq. ;  near  Moorestown,  in 
New  Jersey  ;  and  in  tht  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  about  the 
middle  of  May,  —  probably  as  a  straggler  on  its  way  to  some 
Northern  breeding-place.  It.>  notes  and  further  history  are  yet 
unknown. 

Since  Nuttall  wrote,  we  have  leai  led  a  little  more  of  the  life  his- 
tory of  this  fc-athcix'i'l  beauty,  'hough  our  knowledge  of  the  i.ird'.s 
habits  is  still  very  limited.  So  rave  is  the  bird  that  examples  adorn 
but  few  collections  ;  yet  it  has  been  .seen  occasionally  throughout  the 
Eastern  States,  and  is  reported  by  Thompson  as  "plentiful"  along 
the  Red  River,  in  Manitoba.  It  has  been  traced  north  to  Hudson 
Bay,  and  south  (in  winter)  to  the  West  Indies.  The  southern  limit 
of  its  breeding  area  is  probably  about  I'le  45th  parallel.  The  nest 
has  beeih  found  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Bailey  at  Umbagog  Lake,  in  Maine, 
and  by  Mr.  James  W.  lUnks  near  St.  John,  N.  B. 

Banks's  nest,  which  T  bad  the  privilege  of  examining,  was  com- 
pletely hidden  amid  the  dense  foliage  of  a  clump  of  cedars,  growing 
on  an  open  hill-side,  and  quite  close  to  a  much-used  thoroughfare. 
When  nr.st  discovered  it  wa-s  unfinished,  and  the  female  was  at 
work  upon  it.  The  male  n  vor  appt.iar  -d,  nor  was  he  iioard  in  the 
vicinity,  though  the  spot  wa;-,  viiiired  frequently.  After  four  eggs 
had  been  laid,  female,  nest,  and  eggs  ver-!  'gathered." 

The  species  had  not  been  observed  bef  >i ,;  near  St.  John,  though 
Mr.  Boardman  had  reported  takin-  examples  at  St.  Stephen'.s,  and 
I  had  seen  several  at  Edmundston,  i.car  the  Quebec  border. 


JIU-A 


CANADIAN   WARBLER. 


227 


The  Edmundston  birds  were  seen  in  early  June,  and  those  secured 
proved  to  be  males.  As  they  sang  with  great  frequency,  they  were 
easily  discovered,  and  were  invariably  found  amid  the  top  branches 
of  high  spruce  and  fir  trees  on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  We  were  anxious 
to  obtain  a  nest,  and  of  course  hunted  through  these  high  branches, 
little  thinking  that  this  coterie  of  Benedicts  were  making  holiday 
while  their  industrious  but  neglected  spouses  were  attending  to 
housekeeping  affairs  down  yonder  in  the  valley.  We  learned  the 
song,  however,  and  discovered  that  its  theme  resembled  somewhat 
the  simple  lay  of  the  Nashville,  though  the  voice  is  neither  so 
full  nor  so  sweet,  recalling  rather  the  thin,  wiry  tones  of  the  Black 
and  White  Creeper. 


C.\NADIAN  WARBLER. 


bVLVANU    CANADENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash;  crown  marked  with  black;  line  from  l)ill 
around  the  eyes,  yellow  ;  line  from  beneath  the  eyes  to  sides  of  breast 
black;  under  parts  yellow  spotted  with  black,  the  spots  forming  a  line  or 
crescent  .icrossthe  breast ;  throat  unspotted.     Length  5  to  5%^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  sometimes  near  border  of  a  stream  or  by  a  moist 
meadow,  placed  on  side  of  mound  or  among  upturned  roots  of  a  tree  ;  com- 
posed of  grass  and  stems,  lined  with  hair. 

P'S,^^-  4-5  ;  white  or  creamy,  spotted,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end, 
with  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  is  a  rare  summer  species  in  the  Atlantic  States,  appear- 
ing singly,  and  for  a  few  days  only,  on  the  passage  north  or 
south  in  the  spring  or  autumn.  These  birds  breed  in  Canada 
and  Labrador,  and  are  more  abundant  in  mountainous  interior, 
—  the  route  by  which  they  principally  migrate.  They  winter 
in  the  tropical  regions,  are  then  silent,  and,  like  the  rest  of 
their  tribe,  very  active  in  darting  through  the  branches  after 
insects. 

.\udubon  found  this  species  breeding  in  the  Great  Pine 
Poorest  of  the  Pokono  in  Pennsylvania,  as  well  as  in  Maine,  the 
British  Provinces,  and  Labrador.  They  have  a  short,  unattrac- 
tive note  in  the  spring,  and  in  the  mountains  where  they  dwell 
they  have  a  predilection  for  the  shady  borders  of  streams  where 
laurels  grow. 


228 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


The  Canadian  Warbler  is  common  during  the  migrations,  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi,  and  though  breeding  chicHy  north  of 
43°,  some  pairs  nest  in  Massachusetts,  New  York,  southern  Ontario, 
and  Illinois.  It  has  been  taken  in  Labrador  and  is  common  in 
Manitoba.     It  winters  in  Central  America. 


>l^^7  YELLOW-THROATED   WARBLER. 

DeNDROICA    DOMINICA. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  ash;  forehead  and  sides  of  head,  black;  line 
from  nostril  to  hind  neck,  yellow;  wing-bars  white;  beneath,  yellowish 
white  ;  chin  and  throat  rich  yellow ;  sides  of  breast  streaked  with  black. 
Length  4,^4^  to  ^^-4  inches. 

AVj/.  In  an  open  grove  or  the  edge  of  heavy  woods,  on  top  of  horizontal 
branch  or  at  the  forks  of  a  limb,  or  "  concealed  in  pendant  moss,"  20  to  go 
feet  from  the  ground  ;  made  of  grass-weed  stems,  strips  of  bark,  and  moss, 
lined  with  vegetable  fibre,  horse-hair,  or  feathers. 

Ei^^i^'s.  3-5 ;  white,  tinged  with  green,  spotted  around  the  larger  end 
•vith  brown  and  lilac ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

These  elegant  and  remarkable  birds  reside  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  also  migrate  in  considerable  numbers  into  the 
southern  parts  of  the  United  States,  particularly  Louisiana  and 
Georgia,  whence  indeed  they  only  absent  themselves  in  the 
two  inclement  months  of  December  and  January.  They  are 
seen  in  February  in  ('eorgia,  but  very  rarely  venture  as  far 
north  as  Pennsylvania.  The  song  is  pretty  loud  and  agreeable, 
according  to  Latham  and  VV'ilson,  resembling  somewhat  the 
notes  of  the  Indigo  Bird.  In  the  tropical  countries  they  inhabit, 
this  delicate  music  is  continued  nearly  throughout  the  year, 
and  participated  also  by  the  female,  though  possessed  of  in- 
ferior vocal  powers.  The  bird  appears  to  have  many  of  the 
habits  of  the  Creeping  Warbler  (S.  varia),  running  spirally 
around  the  trunks  of  the  pine-trees,  on  which  it  alights,  and 
ascending  or  descending  in  the  active  search  of  its  insect 
fare. 

The  sagacity  displayed  by  this  bird  in  the  construction  and 
situation  of  its  nest  is  very  remarkable.     This  curious  fabric  is 


YELLOW-TMROATED   WARBLER. 


229 


suspended  to  a  kind  of  rope  which  hangs  from  tree  to  tree, 
usually  depending  from  branches  that  bend  over  rivers  or 
ravines.  'Ihe  nest  itself  is  made  of  dry  blades  of  grass,  the 
ribs  of  leaves,  and  slender  root-fibres,  the  whole  interwoven 
together  with  great  art ;  it  is  also  fastened  to,  or  rather  worked 
into,  the  pendant  strings  made  of  the  tough  silky  fibres  of  some 
species  of  Echitcs,  or  other  plant  of  that  family.  It  is,  in  fact, 
a  small  circular  bed,  so  thick  and  compact  as  to  exclude  the 
rain,  left  to  rock  in  the  wind  without  sustaining  or  being  ac- 
cessible to  any  injury.  The  more  securely  to  defend  this 
precious  habitation  from  the  attacks  of  numerous  enemies,  the 
opening,  or  entrance,  is  neither  made  on  the  top  nor  the  side, 
but  at  the  bottom ;  nor  is  the  access  direct,  for  after  passing 
the  vestibule,  it  is  necessary  to  go  over  a  kind  of  parti  lion,  and 
through  another  aperture,  before  it  descends  into  the  guarded 
abode  of  its  eggs  and  young.  This  interior  lodgment  is  round 
and  soft,  being  lined  with  a  kind  of  lichen,  or  the  silky  down 
of  plants. 

This  species  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  South  Atlantic  States, 
though  occasionally  a  few  wander  to  New  York,  Connecticut, 
and  Massachusetts. 

Note.  —  The  Sycamore  Warbler  (Z>.  dominica  alhilord) 
differs  from  the  type  in  being  smaller  (length  4^''^  to  1)2  inches) 
and  in  having  the  line  over  the  eyes  white,  instead  of  yellow.  It 
occurs  along  the  Mississippi  valley  and  ea.stward  to  Ohio,  where 
it  is  common.  It  has  been  taken  also  in  South  Carolina  and 
Florida. 


1 


i  i 


BLACK-THROATED   GREEN   WARBLER. 

Dendroica  virens. 

Char.  Male  in  spring:  above,  bright  olive;  line  on  sides  of  head  rich 
yellow  ;  wings  and  tail  duskj- ;  wing-bars  and  outer  tail-feathers  white ; 
beneath,  white  tinged  with  yellow;  throat  and  chest  rich  black.  Male  in 
autumn,  female,  and  young  ;  similar,  but  black  of  throat  mixed  with  yellow, 
sometimes  obscured. 

yV!?j/.  On  the  border  of  heavy  woods,  in  fork  of  coniferous  tree  30  to 
50  feet  from  the  ground;  of  twigs,  grass,  etc.,  lined.with  hair  and  down. 

J^.^ii's.  3-4;  white  or  creamy  white  wreathed  around  larger  end  with 
spots  of  brown  and  lilac ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  rather  rare  species  arrives  from  its  tropical  winter- 
quarters  in  Pennsylvania  towards  the  close  of  April  or  begin- 
ning of  May.  About  the  12th  of  the  latter  month  it  is  seen  in 
this  part  of  Massachusetts ;  but  never  more  than  a  single  pair 
are  seen  together.  At  this  season  a  silent  individual  may  be 
occasionally  obser\'ed,  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  carefully  and  ac- 


i 


.. 


;  t: 
I  i 


I 


w> 


rich 

hite ; 

le  in 

low, 

30  to 
kvn. 
with 


iter- 
gin- 
n  in 
pair 
y  be 
ac- 


BLACK-THROATED   GREEN   WARBLER. 


231 


tively  searching  for  small  caterpillars  and  winged  inserts  amidst 
the  white  blossoms  of  the  shady  apple-tree  ;  and  so  inoffensive 
and  unsuspicious  is  the  little  warbler  that  he  pursues  without 
alarm  his  busy  occupation,  as  the  spectator  within  a  few  feet  of 
him  watches  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  Early  in  October  these 
birds  are  seen  in  small  numbers  roving  restlessly  through  the 
forest,  preparatory  to  tl    ir  departure  for  the  South. 

Though  the  greater  part  of  the  species  probably  proceed 
farther  north  to  rear  their  young,  a  few  spend  the  summer  in 
the  Middle  ,  id  Northern  States ;  but  from  their  timorous  and 
retiring  habits  it  is  not  easy  to  trace  out  their  retreats  at  the 
period  of  breeding.  In  the  summer  of  1830,  however,  on  the 
8th  of  June,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  nest  of  this  species 
in  a  perfectly  solitary  situation  on  the  Blue  Hills  of  Milton. 
The  female  was  now  sitting,  and  about  to  hatch.  The  nest  was 
in  a  low,  thick,  and  stunted  Virginia  juniper.  When  I  ap- 
proached near  to  the  nest  the  female  stood  motionless  on  its 
edge  and  peeped  down  in  such  a  manner  that  I  imagined  her 
to  be  a  young  bird.  She  then  darted  directly  to  the  earth  and 
ran ;  but  when,  deceived,  I  sought  her  on  the  ground,  she  had 
very  expertly  disappeared,  and  I  now  found  the  nest  to  con- 
tain 4  roundish  °^gs,  white,  inclining  to  flesh-color,  variegated, 
more  particularly  at  the  great  end,  with  pale,  purplish  points 
of  various  sizes,  interspersed  with  other  large  spots  of  brown 
and  blackish.  The  nest  was  formed  of  circularly  entwined 
fine  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  juniper  and  the  tough  white 
fibrous  bark  of  some  other  plant,  then  bedded  with  soft  feath- 
ers of  the  Robin,  and  lined  with  a  few  horse-hairs  and  some 
slender  tops  of  bent-grass  {At^rostis) .  The  male  was  singing 
his  simple  chant  at  the  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
nest,  and  was  now  nearly  in  the  same  dark  wood  of  tall  oaks 
and  white  pines  in  which  I  had  first  heard  him  a  fortnight  be- 
fore. This  simple,  rather  drawling,  and  somewhat  plaintive 
song,  uttered  at  short  intervals,  resembled  the  syllables  7^  (/e 
teri/scd,  sometimes  te  derisca,  pronounced  pretty  loud  and 
slow,  and  the  tones  proceeded  from  high  to  low.  In  the  inter- 
vals he  was  perpetually  busied  in  catching  small  cynips  and 


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232 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Other  kinds  of  flies,  keeping  up  a  smart  snapping  of  his  bill, 
almost  similar  to  the  noise  made  by  knocking  pebbles  together. 
This  quaint  and  indolent  ditty  I  have  often  heard  before  in 
the  dark  and  solitary  woods  of  west  Pennsylvania ;  and  here, 
as  there,  it  affords  an  agreeable  relief  in  the  dreary  silence  and 
gloom  of  the  thick  forest.  This  note  is  very  much  like  the 
call  of  the  Chicadee,  and  at  times  both  are  heard  amidst 
the  reigning  silence  of  the  summer  noon.  In  the  whole  dis- 
trict of  this  extensive  hill  or  mountain,  in  Milton,  there  ap- 
peared to  exist  no  other  pair  of  these  lonely  Warblers  but  the 
present.  Another  pair,  however,  had  probably  a  nest  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  woods  of  Mount  Auburn  in  Cambridge,  and 
in  the  spring  of  the  present  year  (1831)  several  pairs  of  these 
birds  were  seen  for  a  transient  period. 

Nuttall  was  not  the  only  one  of  the  older  writers  who  expressed 
the  opinion  that  this  and  other  species  of  the  family  were  less 
abundant  than  more  modern  observers  have  found  them.  Wilson 
and  Audubon  made  similar  statements. 

This  Warbler  is  now  known  to  be  a  common  bird  throughout 
these  Eastern  States,  and  may  be  found,  in  summer,  in  any  coni- 
ferous forest  in  Massachusetts,  and  thence  northward  to  the  fur- 
countries  and  westward  to  the  plains.  It  breeds  also,  sparingly,  in 
southern  New  England,  northern  Ohio,  Illinois,  etc.,  and  winters 
in  the  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 


BLACKBURNIAN   WARBLER. 

DeNDROICA    BLACKBURNI.E. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  black,  back  streaked  with  whitish  ;  sides  of  head 
black;  crown  patch,  line  over  eye,  and  entire  throat  and  bieust  rich 
orange  or  flame  color  ;  belly  yellowish  white  ;  sides  streaked  with  black  ; 
large  white  patches  on  wings ;  outer  tail-feathers  nearly  all  white. 
Female :  similar,  but  black  replaced  by  grayish  brown,  and  orange  by 
dull  yellow ;  two  white  wing-bars.    Length  sj^  to  5  ^  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  coniferous  woods,  saddled  on  horizontal  limb  of  pine 
or  hemlock,  20  to  40  feet  from  the  ground ;  composed  of  twigs,  roots,  and 
shreds  of  bark  mixed  with  vegetable  down,  lined  with  feathers,  hair,  and 
down. 

E<^i::s.  4  ;  white,  often  tinged  with  green,  sjottid,  chiefly  around  larger 
end,  with  brown  and  lilac ;  0.70  X  0.50. 


t 


V 


BLACKBURNIAN  WARBLER. 


233 


The  Blackbumian  Warbler  is  one  of  the  rarest  and  most 
beautiful  species  of  the  genus,  which  from  the  ist  to  the  15  th 
of  May,  or  sometimes  later,  pays  a  transient  visit  to  the  Middle 
and  Northern  States,  on  its  way  to  its  remote  boreal  place  of 
retirement  for  the  breeding  season.  It  is  still  more  rarely  seen 
in  the  autumn,  about  the  month  of  September,  in  its  passage 
to  tropical  America,  where  it  winters,  as  may  be  presumed,  from 
its  occurrence  late  in  autumn  about  Vera  Cruz,  according  to 
Mr.  Bullock.  It  is  an  exceedingly  nimble  insect-hunter,  keep- 
ing towards  the  tops  of  trees,  scarcely  uttering  even  an  audible 
chirp,  and  at  this  season  no  song  as  far  as  is  yet  known. 

On  the  Magdalene  Islands  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  in 
June,  Audubon  remarks  that  he  heard  the  song  of  this  beauti- 
ful warbler,  consisting  of  five  or  six  loud  notes,  which  it  uttered 
from  the  branches  of  a  fir-tree  while  engaged  in  quest  of  its 
prey.  The  nest  found  '  )va  Scotia  was  made  externally  of 
coarse  materials  and  lined  with  silky  fibres  and  delicate  strips 
of  bark,  over  which  lay  a  thick  bed  of  feathers  and  horse- hair. 
It  was  found  in  a  small  fork  of  a  tree,  5  or  6  feet  from  the 
ground,  near  a  brook.  Dr.  Brewer  also  found  a  nest  of  this 
species  in  Massachusetts. 


)  ., 


T 


The  very  rare  adult  of  the  Hemlock  Warbler  was  found  by 
Wilson  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp  in  Pennsylvania,  and  ap- 
peared to  take  up  its  residence  in  the  dark  hemlock-trees  of 
that  desolate  region.  It  was  very  lively  and  active,  climbing 
among  the  branches  and  hanging  from  the  twigs  like  a  Tit- 
mouse. It  darted  after  flies  to  a  considerable  distance,  and 
beginning  with  the  lower  branches,  hunted  with  regularity  up- 
wards to  the  summit  of  the  tree,  and  in  this  way  it  proceeded 
very  industriously  to  forage  through  the  forest  till  satisfied.  At 
intervals  it  stopped  an  instant  to  warble  out  a  few  low  and 
sweet  notes,  probably  for  the  recognition  or  company  of  its 
mate,  which  the  discoverer,  however,  did  not  see. 

The  nest  of  this  species,  according  to  Audubon,  who  discov- 
ered it  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp,  was  made  in  a  hemlock  or 


234 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


spruce  tree  at  a  considerable  elevation.  Lichens,  dry  leaves  of 
the  hemlock,  and  slender  twigs  formed  the  exterior;  it  was 
then  lined  with  hair  or  fur  and  the  feathers  of  the  Ruffed 
Grouse.  He  afterwards  met  with  this  species  in  Maine  and 
Newfoundland. 

Nothing  is  more  remarkable  in  the  history  of  this  species 
than  the  rarity  of  the  adult  and  the  abundance  of  the  young 
birds ;  these  last,  which  we  have  long  known  as  the  Autumnal 
Warbler,  appear  in  gregarious  flocks  in  the  larger  solitary  for- 
ests of  Massachusetts  as  early  as  the  20th  of  July,  assembled 
from  the  neighboring  districts  probably,  in  which  they  have 
been  reared.  They  remain  there  usually  until  the  middle  of 
October,  at  which  time  they  are  also  seen  in  the  Middle 
States.  They  feed  on  small  insects  and  berries.  Late  in  the 
season,  on  a  fine  autumnal  morning,  troops  of  them  may  be 
seen  in  the  fields  and  lanes,  sometimes  descending  to  the 
ground,  and  busily  employed  in  taming  over  the  new  fallen 
leaves,  or  perambulating  and  searching  the  chinks  of  the  bark 
of  the  trees,  or  the  holes  in  the  posts  of  the  fence,  in  qr'^st  of 
lurking  moths  and  spiders ;  and  while  thus  eagerly  engaged, 
they  are  occasionally  molested  or  driven  away  by  the  more 
legitimate  Creepers  or  Nuthatches,  whose  jealousy  they  thus 
arouse  by  their  invasion.  Earlier  in  the  season  they  prey  on 
cynips,  flies,  and  more  active  game,  in  pursuit  of  which  they 
may  be  seen  fluttering  and  darting  through  the  verdant  boughs 
of  the  forest  trees.  One  of  these  little  visitors,  which  I  ob- 
tained by  its  flying  inadvertently  into  an  open  chamber,  soon 
became  reconciled  to  confinement,  flew  vigorously  after  house- 
flies,  and  fed  greedily  on  grasshoppers  and  ivy  berries  (  Cissus 
hederaced)  ;  at  length  it  became  so  sociable  as  to  court  my 
acquaintance  and  eat  from  my  hand.  Before  I  restored  it  to 
liberty,  its  occasional  tweet  attracted  several  of  its  companions 
to  the  windows  of  its  prison.  At  this  time  the  bird  is  desti- 
tute of  song,  and  only  utters  a  plaintive  call  of  recognition. 

Nuttall  followed  Wilson  and  Audubon  in  considering  the  young 
Blackburnians  a  different  species,  naming  it  the  "  Hemiock  War- 
bler."   I  have  given  above  Nuttall's  ace  ,unt  of  the  two. 


I 


^ 


CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER. 


235 


The  Blackburnian  is  rather  common  in  the  Atlantic  States  and 
westward  to  the  Plains,  breeding  chiefly  noi  th  of  45°,  and  sparingly 
in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  It  winters  from  the  Bahamas 
and  eastern  Mexico  southward. 

Many  Canadian  observers  have  considered  this  Warbler  rather 
rare,  but  the  opinion  has  probably  arisen  from  the  secluded  habits 
of  the  bird  while  in  its  summer  home.  It  shows  a  preference  for 
the  higher  branches,  and  its  favorite  haunts  are  amid  the  deeper 
forests  where  the  pine  and  hemlock  flourish. 


A 


CHESTNUT-SIDED  WARBLER. 
Dendroica  pensylvanica. 


Char.  Back  black,  streaked  with  olive  of  grayish  or  yellowish  tint ; 
crown  yellow  ;  sides  of  head  white,  enclosing  a  patch  of  black  ;  sides  of 
neck  and  entire  under  parts  white ;  sides  streaked  with  chestnut,  which 
extends  from  neck  to  flanks ;  wing-bars  and  blotches  on  tail  white.  Length 
AH  to  S/4  inches. 

JVcst.  On  the  edge  of  an  open  woodland  or  the  margin  of  a  moist 
meadow,  in  low  tree  or  bush ;  composed  of  grass  and  strips  of  bark  fas- 
tened with  insect  silk,  and  lined  with  grass  or  leaves  or  hair. 

£gg-s.  4-5 ;  white  or  creamy,  spotted,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end, 
which  is  sometimes  wreathed,  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.68  X  0.50. 

This  rare  and  beautiful  Sylvia,  which  probably  winten.  in 
tropical  America,  appears  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States 
early  in  May  on  its  way  north  to  breed ;  it  is  also  seen  in  the 
spring  in  Canada  and  around  Hudson's  Bay.  A  few  pairs  re- 
main, no  doubt,  to  rear  their  young  in  secluded  mountainous 
situations  in  the  Northern  States,  as  on  the  2  2d  of  May, 
1830,  a  pair  appeared  to  have  fixed  their  summer  abode 
near  the  summit  of  the  Blue  Hills  of  Milton.  The  note  of  the 
male  was  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Summer  Yellow  Bird,  being 
only  a  little  louder,  and  less  whistling ;  it  resembles  Ws/i  '/s/i 
*fsh  Ushyia,  given  at  about  an  interval  of  half  a  minute,  and 
answered  by  his  mate  at  some  distance,  near  which,  it  is  proba- 
ble, there  was  a  nest.  He  appeared  to  be  no  way  suspicious 
of  our  approach ;  his  restlessness  was  subdued,  and  he  quietly 
sat  near  the  same  low  bushes,  amusing  himself  and  his  consort, 
for  an  hour  at  a  time,  with  the  display  of  his  lively  and  simple 


M 


236 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ditty.  On  their  first  arrival,  previous  to  pairing,  these  birds 
are  like  the  rest  of  the  genus,  restless,  and  intently  engaged 
in  the  chase  of  insects  amidst  the  blossoms  and  tender  leaves ; 
they  likewise  pursue  common  and  green  bottle  flies  with  avidity 
and  success.  On  the  z7th  of  June,  1831,  I  observed  a  pair 
selecting  food  for  their  young,  with  their  usual  address  and 
activity,  by  the  margin  of  a  bushy  and  secluded  swamp  on  the 
west  side  of  Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity ;  but  I  had  not  the 
good  fortune  to  discover  the  nest.  I  have,  however,  since,  I 
believe,  discovered  the  nest  of  this  bird,  in  a  hazel  copse  in  a 
wood  in  Acton,  in  this  State.  It  is  fixed  in  the  forked  twigs  of 
a  hazel  about  breast  high.  The  fabric  is  rather  light  and  airy, 
being  made  externally  of  a  few  coarse  blades  and  stalks  of 
dea  ass,  then  filled  in  with  finer  blades  of  the  same,  the 
whole  matted  and  tied  with  caterpillar's  silk,  and  lined  with 
very  slender  strips  of  brown  bark  and  similar  white-pine  leaves. 
It  appeared  to  have  been  forsaken  before  its  completion,  and 
the  eggs  I  have  never  seen. 

In  the  woods  around  Farranville,  on  the  Susquehanna, 
within  the  range  of  the  Alleghany  chain,  in  the  month  of  May, 
1830,  I  saw  and  heard  several  males  in  full  song,  in  the 
shady  forest  trees  by  a  small  stream,  and  have  no  doubt  of 
their  breeding  in  that  situation,  though  I  was  not  fortunate 
enough  to  find  a  nest. 

This  species  is  now  a  common  summer  resident  of  New  England 
and  the  settled  portions  of  Canada,  and  occurs  westward  to  the 
Plains.  It  breeds  in  numbers  as  far  south  as  the  fortieth  parallel, 
and  regularly,  though  spar'ngly,  on  the  elevated  lands  southward 
to  Georgia,  and  I  have  found  the  nest  in  New  Brunswick  nortli  of 
latitude  47°.  It  winters  southward  to  the  Bahamas  and  Central 
America. 


BAY-BREASTED  WARBLER.  23/ 


>e  birds 

;ngaged 

leaves ; 

1  avidity 
i  a  pair 
ess  and 
)  on  the 

not  the 
since,  I 
pse  in  a 
twigs  of 
ind  airy, 
italks  of 
me,  the 
ed  with 

2  leaves, 
ion,  and 

lehanna, 
of  May, 
in  the 
oubt  of 

brtunate 


ilngland 
d  to  the 

parallel, 
)uthward 
north  of 

Central 


BAY-BREASTED    WARBLER. 
Dendroica  castanea. 

Char.  Male  :  back  grayish  olive,  streaked  with  black ;  forehead  and 
sides  of  head  black ;  sides  of  neck  buffy ;  throat,  breast,  and  sides  chest- 
nut ;  remainder  of  under  parts  bufifish  ;  wing-bars  and  patches  on  tail  white. 
Female :  above,  olive  streaked  with  black  ;  beneath,  buffy,  sides  and  breast 
tinged  with  dull  rufous.     Length  5^  to  6  i.^ches. 

Nest.  In  an  open  woodland,  on  horizontal  branch  of  coniferous  tree 
10  to  20  feet  from  the  ground ;  of  twigs,  shreds  of  bark,  grass  roots,  and 
moss,  lined  with  fine  roots,  moss,  or  pine-needles. 

Eggs-  3-6  (usually  4) ;  white,  with  blue  tint,  or  bluish  green,  spotted 
with  reddish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  is  a  still  rarer  and  more  transient  visitor  than  the  last. 
It  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  some  time  in  April 
or  about  the  beginning  of  May,  and  towards  the  12  th  or  15  th 
of  the  same  month  it  visits  Massachusetts,  but  seldom  stays 
more  than  a  week  or  ten  days,  and  is  very  rarely  seen  on  its 
return  in  the  autumn.  Audubon  once  obsen^ed  several  in 
Louisiana  late  in  June,  so  that  it  probably  sometimes  breeds 
in  very  secluded  places  without  regularly  proceeding  to  the 
northern  regions.  It  is  an  active  insect-hunter,  and  keeps 
much  towards  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees,  where  it  darts  about 
with  great  activity,  and  hangs  from  the  twigs  with  fluttering 
wings.  One  of  these  birds,  which  was  wounded  in  the  wing, 
soon  became  reconciled  to  confinement,  and  greedily  caught 
and  devoured  the  flies  which  I  offered  him ;  but  from  the 
extent  of  the  injury,  he  did  not  long  survive.  In  habits  and 
manners,  as  well  as  markings,  this  species  greatly  resembles 
the  preceding. 

This  Warbler  is  exceptional  in  being  more  abundant  in  New 
England  in  spring  than  in  autumn.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  reports  that 
the  same  rule  obtains  in  Ontario,  but  Dr.  Wheaton  considered  that 
in  Ohio  the  birds  were  more  numerous  during  the  autumn ;  and 
these  apparently  conflicting  statements  suggest  an  interesting  phase 
in  the  question  of  migration  routes. 

The  bird  is  common  as  a  summer  resident  in  the  northern  por- 
tions of  New  England,  New  York,  and  Michigan,  though  rather  rare 


238 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


in  New  Brunswick,  Quebec,  and  Ontario.  The  most  southern  point 
at  which  it  has  been  found  breeding  is  Chicarua,  N.  II.,  in  lati- 
tude 44°,  where  Mr.  Frank  BoUes  obtained  a  nest  in  1890.  The  spe- 
cies ranges  north  to  Hudson  Bay,  and  south  to  Central  America. 


BLACK-I'OLL  WARBLER. 

Dendroica  striata. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive  thickly  streaked  with  black;  top  of  head 
black ;  cheeks  and  entire  under  parts  white  ;  sides  streaked  with  black ; 
wing-bars  and  tail-patches  white.     Length  5/4  to  5^  inches. 

Nest.  In  an  evergreen  forest  on  low  branch  (sometimes  on  the  ground)  ; 
of  grass,  roots,  twigs,  and  lichens;  lined  with  grass  covered  with  white 
feathers. 

Eggs.  4-5 ;  white,  with  various  tints  (usually  pale  pink  or  creamy), 
more  or  less  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac,  —  often  dark  brown 
and  olive  gray  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  rather  common  and  well-marked  species  is  observed  to 
arrive  in  Pennsylvania  from  the  South  about  the  20th  of  April, 
but  ii-*  Massachusetts  hardly  before  the  middle  of  May ;  it  re- 
turns early  in  September,  and  appears  to  feed  wholly  on  insects. 
In  the  Middle  States  it  is  confined  chieily  to  the  woods,  where, 
in  the  summits  of  the  tallest  trees,  it  is  seen  in  busy  pursuit  of 
its  favorite  prey.  On  its  first  arrival  it  keeps  usually  in  the 
tops  of  the  maples,  darting  about  amidst  the  blosson  s.  As 
the  woods  become  clothed  with  leaves,  it  may  be  found  protty 
generally  as  a  summer  resident ;  it  often  also  seeks  the  banks 
of  creeks  and  swamps,  in  which  situations  it  probably  passes  the 
breeding  season.  In  this  vicinity  the  Black-poll  is  a  familiar 
visitor  in  *;he  lowest  orchard-trees,  where  it  feeds  on  canker- 
worms  and  other  small  caterpillars,  as  well  as  flies  of  different 
kinds,  etc.  At  this  time,  towards  the  month  of  June,  it  is  no 
longer  a  restless  wanderer,  but  having  flxed  upon  its  station  for 
the  summer,  it  now  begins,  in  a  humble  way,  to  display  its 
musical  talents  in  the  cherished  and  constant  company  of  its 
faithful  mate.  This  note,  uttered  at  interwils  of  half  a  minute, 
is  like  the  sound  of  tsh'  tsh  tsh  tshe  tshe,  from  low  to  high,  but 


PINE  WARBLER. 


239 


4 
I 


altogether  so  shrill  and  slender  as  to  sound  almost  like  the 
faint  i:  ing  of  a  saw.  This  species  extends  its  migrations  to 
Newfoundland,  according  to  Pennant.  In  the  month  of 
June,  Audubon  found  the  nest  in  Labrador  placed  about 
3  feet  frv/m  the  ground,  in  the  fork  of  a  small  branch,  close 
to  the  main  stem  of  a  fir-tree.  It  was  formed  of  green  and 
white  moss  and  -ichens,  intermixed  with  coarse  dried  grass; 
within  this  was  a  layer  of  bent-grass,  the  lining,  of  dark-colored 
dry  moss,  looked  like  horse-hair,  and  was  arranged  in  a  circu- 
lar direction  with  great  care ;  lastly  was  a  thick  bed  of  large 
soft  feathers,  —  some  of  them  were  from  Ducks,  but  most  of 
them  from  the  Willow  Grouse.     It  contained  4  eggs. 

The  Black-poll  breeds  sparingly  in  northern  New  England,  New 
Brunswick,  and  northern  Michigan,  building  chiefly  beyond  the 
Laurentian  hills,  in  Quebec  and  Ontario;  though  Dr.  L.  B.  Bishop 
found  it  breeding  in  numbers  on  the  Magdalen  Islands,  and  Mr. 
J.  P.  Norris  took  a  number  of  nests  on  Grand  Menan.  It  ranges 
northward  to  the  Barren  Grounds  and  to  Alaska,  and  winters  in 
northern  South  America. 


PINE  WARBLER. 

Dendroica  vtgorsii. 


^-m 


Char.  Above,  olive  ;  beneath,  yellow,  paler  (or  white)  on  belly ;  wing- 
bars  and  blotches  on  outer  tail-feathers,  white.  Length  5^  to  5^ 
inches. 

A'est  Usually  in  evergreen  woods,  on  horizontal  bough  of  pine  or 
cedar  30  or  40  feet  from  the  ground ;  of  weed  stems,  shreds  of  bark, 
and  leaves  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  hair  and  feathers. 

-^iST-^'  4-Si  dull  white  or  gray,  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac;  0.70 
X  0.50. 

This  common  species,  to  the  commencement  of  winter,  in- 
habits all  parts  of  ihe  United  States,  and  probably  extends 
its  northern  miTrs lions  to  the  forests  of  Newfoundland.  It 
arrives  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  close  of  March  and  beginning  of 
April,  and  soon  after  is  seen  in  all  parts  of  New  England, 
amidst  the  pine  and  juniper  forests,  in  which  it  principally 


-""-TH!"— r>«r»w>»j««IP«n« 


240 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


resides.  Both  the  old  and  young  remain  with  us  till  nearly  the 
close  of  October;  stragglers  have  even  been  seen  in  mid-win- 
ter in  the  latitude  of  43°.  In  winter  they  rove  through  the 
pine  forests  and  barrens  of  the  Southern  States  in  companies 
of  20  to  50  or  more,  alighting  at  times  on  the  trunks  of  the 
trees,  and  attentively  searching  them  for  lurking  larvae,  but  are 
most  frequently  employed  in  capturing  the  small  insects  which 
infest  the  opening  buds  of  the  pine,  around  which  they  may  be 
seen  perpetually  hovering,  springing,  or  creeping,  with  restless 
activity ;  in  this  way  they  proceed,  from  time  to  time,  foraging 
through  the  forest;  occasionally,  also,  they  alight  on  the 
ground  in  quest  of  worms  and  grubs  of  various  kinds,  or  dart 
irregularly  after  hovering  flies,  almost  in  the  manner  of  the  Fly- 
catchers. In  these  states  they  are  by  far  the  most  numerous  of 
all  the  Warblers,  In  the  month  of  March  they  already  began 
to  show  indications  for  pairing,  and  jealous  contests  ensued 
perpetually  among  the  males.  The  principal  body  of  the  spe- 
cies probably  remain  the  year  round  in  the  Southern  forests, 
where  I  saw  them  throughout  the  winter ;  great  numbers  are 
also  bred  in  the  Northern  States.  In  summer  their  food  is  the 
eggs  and  larvae  of  various  insects,  as  well  as  flies  or  cynips, 
caterpillars,  coleoptera,  and  ants.  In  autumn,  the  young  fre- 
quent the  gardens,  groves,  and  orchards,  feeding  likewise  on 
berries  of  various  kinds,  as  on  those  of  the  cornel,  wild  grape, 
and  five-leaved  ivy ;  at  this  season  they  are  very  fat,  and  fly  and 
forage  in  families.  They  now  only  utter  a  shrill  and  plaintive 
chip.  I  have  had  a  male  Pine  Warbler,  domesticated  for  a 
short  time ;  he  fed  gratefully,  from  the  instant  he  was  caught, 
upon  flies,  small  earthworms,  and  minced  flesh,  and  was  so 
tame  and  artless  as  to  sit  contented  on  every  hand,  and 
scarcely  shift  himself  securely  from  my  feet.  On  offering  him 
drink  he  walked  directly  into  the  vessel,  withrut  using  the 
slightest  precaution  or  exhibiting  any  trace  of  fear.  His  tship 
and  manner  in  all  respects  were  those  of  the  Autumnal 
Warbler. 

The  song  of  the  Pine  Warbler,  though  agreeable,  amidst  the 
dreary  solitude  of  the  boundless  forests  which  he  frequents,  has 


PINE  WARBLER. 


241 


but  little  compass  or  variety ;  sometimes  it  approaches  the  sim- 
plest trill  of  the  Canary,  but  it  is  commonly  a  reverberating, 
gently  rising,  or  murmuring  sound,  like  cr  V  '/'  V  W  ^rdh  ;  or, 
in  the  spring,  ^twe  ^twe  ^tw  'tiv  'tw  ^tw  'tw,  and  sometimes  like 
'A//  ^tsh  '/sh  'tw  ^tw  'tw  ^tw  'tiv  ;  when  barkened  to  some  time, 
there  is  a  variation  in  the  cadence,  which,  though  rather  feeble 
at  a  distance,  is  not  unpleasant,  as  the  little  minstrel  tunes  his 
pipe  during  the  heat  of  the  summer  day,  while  he  flits  gently 
and  innocently  fearless  through  the  shady  boughs  of  the  pine  or 
cedar  in  perpetual  quest  of  his  untiring  prey.  This  song  is 
commonly  heard  at  a  considerable  distance  from  his  mate  and 
nest,  from  whom  he  often  widely  strays,  according  to  the  suc- 
cess of  his  precarious  pursuit.  As  the  sound  of  the  warble 
varies  from  slender  to  high  or  low,  it  is  often  difficult  to  dis- 
cover the  retreat  of  the  little  busy  musician,  which  appears  far 
or  near  with  the  modulation  of  his  almost  ventriloquous  note. 
The  female  likewise  tunes,  at  timv  s,  her  more  slender  lay  in 
a  wiry  tone,  almost  like  that  of  the  S.  varia,  in  early  spring. 

About  the  7th  of  June,  1830,  I  discovered  a  nest  of  this 
species  in  a  Virginian  juniper,  near  Mount  Auburn,  in  this  vicin- 
ity, at  the  height   of  about  40  feet  from  the  ground.     It  was 
firmly  fixed  in  the  upright  twigs  of  a  close  branch.     The  nest 
was  thin,  but  very  neat ;  the  principal  material  was  the  vf'ny  old 
stems  of  the  slender  knot-weed  {Polygonum  tenue),  circularly 
interlaced,  and  connected  externally  with  rough  linty  fibres  of 
some  species  of  Asclepias,  and  blended  with  caterpillar's  webs. 
The  lining  was  made  of  a  few  hog's  bristles,  slender  root-fibres, 
a  mat  of  the  down  of  fern-stalks,  and  one  or  two  feathers  of 
the  Robin's  breast,  —  a  curious  medley,  but  all  answering  the 
pose  of  warmth  and  shelter  for  the  expected  brood.     I  saw 
several  of  these  nests,  which  had  at  different  times  been  thrown 
to  the  ground,  and  in  all,  the  wiry  grass  and  general  material 
were  the  same  as  in  the  one  now  described ;    and  this,  of 
course,  is  entirely  different  from  that  given  by  Wilson  on  the 
authority  of  Mr.  Abbot.     The  nest  there  mentioned  is  nothing 
more  than  the  usual  pendulous  fabric  of  the  Red-eyed  Warbling 
Flycatcher.     The  eggs  in  ours  were  4,  and,  advanced  towards 
VOL.  I.  —  16 


242 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


: 


hatching,  they  were  white,  with  a  slight  tinge  of  green,  very 
full  of  small  pale  brown  spots,  somewhat  more  numerous 
towards  the  larger  end,  where  they  appear  connected  or  aggre- 
gated around  a  purplish  ground.  The  female  made  some  little 
complaint,  but  almost  immediately  resumed  her  seat,  though  2 
of  the  eggs  were  taken  away ;  the  male  made  off  immediately, 
and  was  but  seldom  seen  near  the  place. 

The  Pine  Warbler  is  a  commoh  summer  resident  of  New  Eng- 
land, but  I  seldom  saw  it  in  New  Brunswick,  and  can  find  no  evi. 
dence  of  its  occurrence  in  Nova  Scotia.  Mr.  Neilson  thinks  it 
uncommon,  and  only  a  migrant  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec  city,  and 
Mr.  Mcllwraith  makes  a  similar  report  for  Ontario,  It  winters  in 
the  Southern  States. 


PRAIRIE   WARBLER. 

Dendroica  discolor. 

Char.  Above,  olive;  back  with  patch  of  red  spots;  forehead,  line 
over  the  eyes,  wing-bars,  and  entire  under  parts  rich  yellow ;  black  streak 
on  sides  of  head ;  sides  spotted  with  black ;  3  outer  tail-feathers  with 
broad  patches  of  white.     Length  ^Yz  to  5  inches. 

N'est.  In  open  woodland  or  old  meadow,  on  small  tree  or  bush  ;  neatly 
and  compactly  made  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre  lined  with  hair  or 
feathers. 

Eggs.  4-5 ;  white,  spotted  around  larger  end  with  brown ;  0.63  X 
047. 

These  birds,  ra^e  in  the  Atlantic  States,  appear  to  be  some- 
what more  common  in  the  solitary  barrens  of  Kentucky  and 
the  open  woods  of  the  Choctaw  country.  Here  they  prefer  the 
open  plains  thinly  covered  with  trees ;  and  without  betraying 
alarm  at  the  visits  of  a  spectator,  leisurely  pursue  their  search 
for  caterpillars  and  small  flies,  examining  among  the  leaves  or 
hopping  among  the  branches,  and  at  times  descending  pretty 
near,  and  familiarly  examining  the  observer,  with  a  confidence 
and  curiosity  seldom  witnessed  in  these  shy  and  retiring 
species.  Such  was  the  conduct  of  a  male  bird  in  this  vicinity, 
on  the  4th  of  June,  whom  I  discovered  by  his  slender  filing 
notes,  which  were  uttered  every  half  minute,  and  like  those  of 


PIUIRIE  WARBLER. 


243 


en,  very 
iimerous 
.r  aggre- 
me  little 
lough  2 
ediately, 

few  Eng- 
no  evi. 
thinks  it 
city,  and 
irinters  in 


:head,  line 
ack  streak 
.thers  with 

ish ;  neatly 
th  hair   or 

rn ;  0.63  X 

be  some- 
ucky  and 
prefer  the 
betraying 
eir  search 
leaves  or 
ng  pretty 
onfidence 
i  retiring 
is  vicinity, 
ider  filing 
e  those  of 


the  Black-poll  Warbler  resembled  the  suppressed  syllables  */s/i 
'/s/i  '/s/i  */s/u'a',  beginning  low,  and  gradually  growing  louder, 
having  nearly  the  same  slender  whistle  as  that  species,  though 
somewhat  stronger.  T||||pair  were  busily  engaged  collecting 
flies  and  larvae  from  a  clump  of  young  locust-trees  in  the  woods 
of  Mount  Auburn,  and  occasionally  they  flitt'ed  among  the 
Virginian  junipers ;  the  familiar  visit  of  the  male  appeared  for 
the  purpose  of  discovering  my  intentions  near  the  nest,  about 
which  he  was  naturally  solicitous,  though  he  made  his  ap- 
proaches with  the  appearance  of  accident.  The  female  was 
more  timid  ;  yet  while  I  was  still  engaged  in  viewing  this  little 
interesting  and  secluded  pair,  she,  without  any  precaution  or 
concealment,  went  directly  to  the  nest  in  the  forks  of  a  low 
barberry  bush  near  by,  and  when  there,  she  sat  and  looked  at 
me  some  time  before  she  removed.  She  made,  however,  no 
pretences  to  draw  me  away  from  the  spot,  where  she  was  sit- 
ting on  4  eggs,  of  which  I  took  away  2  ;  her  approaches  to  the 
nest  were  now  more  cautious,  and  she  came  escorted  and  en- 
couraged by  the  presence  of  her  mate.  Two  eggs  were  again 
soon  added,  and  the  young  brood,  I  believe,  reared  without 
any  accident. 

The  nest  was  scarcely  distinguishable  from  that  of  the  Sum- 
mer Yellow  Bird,  and  quite  different  from  the  nests  described 
by  Wilson  and  Audubon.  My  opportunity  for  examination, 
so  long  continued,  seemed  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  error 
in  the  investigation ;  neither  can  I  compare  the  slender  note 
of  this  species  to  any  whirring  sound,  which  would  more 
nearly  approach  to  the  song  of  the  Pine  Warbler.  The  Prairie 
Warbler  visits  Cambridge  about  the  first  or  second  week  in 
May,  and  according  to  the  observations  of  my  friend  Mr. 
Cooper,  is  seen  probably  about  the  same  time  in  the  vicinity 
of  New  York  in  small  numbers  and  in  pairs,  and  retires  to 
winter  in  the  West  Indies  about  the  middle  of  September. 

This  species  is  now  considered  common  in  Massachusetts, 
though  it  has  not  been  taken  farther  northward.  It  occurs  in 
Ohio  and  in  Michigan,  but  not  in  Ontario.  It  winters  in  south- 
em  Florida  and  the  West  Indies. 


>H^  li  i 


1 


^ 
"--^^i 


to    3 


PARUTA  WARBLER. 

BLUE-YELLOW-BACKED  WARBLEFi. 
COMPSOl  HLYPIS   AMERICANA. 

Char.  Male;  above,  bright  ashy  blue,  an  olive  patch  on  the  back; 
throat  and  breast  yellow,  a  patch  of  rich  brown  on  the  breast ;  belly 
white ;  wings  with  2  broad  white  bj'-e  ;  white  patches  on  inner  web  of 
outer  tail-feathers.  Female :  similar,  but  colors  duller  and  the  patches  on 
back  and  breast  obscure  or  absent.     Length  \yt  to  4^  inches. 

Nest.  In  moist  woodland  or  on  border  of  swamp ;  usually  in  a  bunch 
of  "  beard-moss  "  {usfiea)  hanging  from  the  trunk  or  branch  of  a  tree  10 
to  40  feet  from  the  ground,  and  composed  of  threads  of  the  moss  and  fine 
grass  or  hair  compactly  woven ;  sometimes  lined  with  pine-needles  or 
hair. 

^^^^-  3~7  (usually  4) ;  white  or  creamy,  thickly  spotted  with  sever-al 
shades  of  reddish  brown  ;  0.65  X  0.45. 

This  remarkable  species  visits  the  Middle  and  Northern 
States  about  the  ist  to  the  15  th  of  May,  and  is  seen  again 
early  in  October  on  its  way  to  the  West  Indies  (St.  Domingo 
and  Porto  Rico),  whither  it  retires  at  the  approach  of  winter. 
A  few,  according;  to  Catesby,  pass  the  whole  year  in  South  Car- 
olina. It  is  very  abundant  in  the  summer  in  the  woods  of 
Kentucky,  is  active  and  restless  on  its  first  arrival,  and  fre- 
quents the  summits  of  the  highest  trees,  being  particularly 
fond  of  the  small  caterpillars  and  flies  of  various  kinds  which 
are,  in  ihe  early  part  of  spring,  attracted  to  the  open  blossoms 
dnd  tender  shoots.  It  also  possesses  in  some  degree  the 
creeping  and  prying  habits  of  the  Titmouse,  to  whic'^  genus  it 
it  was  referred  by  Linnaeus  and  Pennant.     Entering  the  south- 


II  the  back ; 
reast ;  belly 
liner  web  of 
!  patches  on 
It 

1  in  a  bunch 
of  a  tree  lo 
OSS  and  fine 
s-needles  or 

with  several 


Northern 
seen  again 
Domingo 
I  of  winter. 
South  Car- 
woods  of 
and  fre- 
particularly 
ands  which 
;n  blossoms 
degree  the 
Ic^  genus  it 
'  the  south- 


t 


BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER. 


245 


em  extremity  of  the  Union  by  the  first  approach  of  spring,  it 
is  now  seen  searching  for  its  insect  food  on  shrubs  and  plants 
in  moist  places,  by  the  borders  of  lakes  and  streams.  In  this 
vicinity  it  is  not  common ;  but  as  it  was  singing  as  late  as  the 
2  2d  of  May  in  the  woody  solitu<'  of  the  Blue  Hills  of 
Milton,  it  must  undoubtedly  breed  there. 

The  notes  of  this  species  resemble  those  of  the  Prairie 
Warbler  in  some  respects,  though  sufficiently  different;  the 
tones,  rising  from  low  to  high,  are  rather  weak  and  insignificant. 

In  Nuttall's  day  this  dainty  bird  was  named  "Party-colored  War- 
bler "  and  "  Finch  Creeper."  it  is  now  considered  a  rather  com- 
mon summer  resident  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  and  breeds 
northward  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  nests  have  been 
found  also  in  northern  Ohio  and  southern  Illinois,  and  in  winter 
the  birds  range  through  southern  Florida  and  among  the  more 
northern  West  Indies 

The  Parula  is  associated  in  my  mind  with  secluded  woods  on 
cool  and  shaded  hill-sides  bordering  a  stream,  and  the  song  comes 
to  me  from  amid  the  top  branches  of  tall  trees,  —  birch  and  poplar. 
It  is  an  attractive  song,  though  it  has  little  theme,  —  merely  a 
rapid  trill  of  some  twenty  sibilant  notes  delivered  with  a  rising  in- 
flection ;  but  the  tones  are  sweet,  and  the  effect  is  pleasing.  The 
song  is  clearly  an  outburst  of  joyous  emotion. 


BLACK-THROATED  BLUE  WARBLER. 

DeNDROICA   Ci^RULESCENS. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  dull  blue,  back  sometimes  streaked  with  black  ; 
sides  of  head,  throat,  and  chest  rich  black ;  remainder  of  under  parts 
white;  white  spot  on  wing;  tail  with  large  white  blotches.  Female: 
above,  dull  olive;  beneath,  dull  greenish  yellow;  white  spot  on  wing. 
Length  5  to  5J4  inches. 

Nest.  In  deep  woods  amid  thick  underbrush  or  on  high  branch ;  of 
grass,  twigs,  vines,  and  lichens,  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  roots 
and  hair. 

^AT-'''  3-5 ;  white,  with  green  or  buff  tint,  often,  when  fresh,  tinged 
with  rosy,  marked  with  large  spots  of  reddish  brown ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Of  this  uncommon  species  we  know  very  little.  It  appears 
only  as  a  transient  visitor  in  the  month  of  April,  in  the  Middle 


1 

h    '     '" "     -  ■" 

cw 

• 

M^ 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

i   i 


246 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


States,  and  after  staying  to  feed  for  a  week  or  ten  days,  it 
proceeds  to  its  northern  breeding-place  in  the  wilds  of  Canada, 
of  which  we  are  wholly  ignorant.  In  November  I  have  ob- 
served a  few  on  their  return  to  the  South,  and  according  to 
Vieillot,  they  winter  in  St.  Domingo  and  other  of  the  larger 
West  India  islands. 

Near  Farranville,  on  che  Susquehanna,  within  the  range  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  in  the  month  of  May,  I  saw  and 
heard  several  pairs  of  this  rare  species  in  the  shady  hemlock- 
trees.  The  males  were  uttering  their  slender,  wiry,  and  very 
peculiar  notes,  while  busily  engaged  in  foraging  for  insects, 
and  seemed,  by  being  paired,  to  prepare  for  incubation. 

The  Pine  Swamp  Warbler  {Sylvia  sphagnosa)  is  now  consid- 
ered only  as  the  young  of  this  species,  of  which,  however,  I 
think  there  yet  remains  some  doubt. 

The  history  of  this  species  need  no  longer  remain  a  mystery,  for 
while  not  abundant,  its  nesting  habits  may  be  studied  in  any  suita- 
ble locality  in  New  England  or  northern  New  York,  or  along  the 
higher  altitudes  of  the  Alleghanies  as  far  down  as  Georgia  ;  though 
the  major  portion  of  the  flocks  pass  on  to  the  Canadian  faunal  area 
before  stopping  to  build. 

I  did  not  meet  with  many  examples  in  New  Brunswick,  and  Mr, 
Neilson  thinks  it  rare  near  Quebec  city;  but  Mr.  Wintle  calls  it 
common  near  Montreal,  and  the  Ontario  observers  also  regard  it 
as  common.    It  winters  in  Florida  as  well  as  in  the  West  Indies. 


KENTUCKY  WARBLER. 

GeOTHLVPIS   FORMOSA. 

Char.  Above,  olive ;  crown  and  sides  of  head  and  neck,  black ;  line 
from  nostril  to  and  around  the  eye  yellow;  beneath,  yellow,  the  sides 
shaded  with  olive.     Length  ^Vz  to  5^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  in  rather  thick  woods  ;  a  bulky  affair  of  loosely 
laid  leaves  and  grass,  lined  with  vegetable  down,  roots,  or  hair. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  white  or  creamy,  spotted  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of 
brown;  0.73  X  056. 

This  beautiful  species,  first  described  by  Wilson,  frequents 
the  dark  forests  of  the  southwestern  parts  of  the  Union,  being 


CERULEAN  WARBLER. 


247 


days,  it 
Canada, 
tiave  ob- 
>rding  to 
le  larger 

range  of 
saw  and 
[lemlock- 
and  very 
■  insectS;, 
in. 

iv  consid- 
awever,  I 

^stery,  for 
any  suita- 
along  the 
a ;  though 
aunal  area 

[,  and  Mr, 
calls  it 
regard  it 
Indies. 


particularly  abundant  in  Louisiana,  and  not  uncommon  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Tennessee,  and  from  thence  inhabiting  throughout 
the  country  to  the  estuaries  of  the  Mississippi.  It  frequents 
low,  damp  woods  and  the  desolate  borders  of  the  lagoons, 
cane-brakes,  and  swamps  near  the  banks  of  the  great  rivers. 
It  arrives  in  Kentucky  about  the  middle  of  April,  but  enters 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  Union  from  Mexico  by  the  same 
time  in  March,  and  by  the  middle  of  September  retires  south 
of  the  United  States.  The  males  are  very  pugnacious  in  the 
pairing  season  of  spring,  and  utter  some  loud  notes,  in  threes, 
resembling  the  sound  of  ^twccdle  iweedle  iweedle.  The  nest  is 
often  attached  to  stems  of  stout  weeds,  or  placed  in  a  tuft  of 
grass.  It  is  made  of  the  dry  bark  of  herbaceous  plants,  mixed 
with  downy  substances,  and  lined  with  the  cotton  of  the  seed 
of  the  wild  poplar.  The  species  is  scarcely  known  to  the  east 
of  North  Carolina. 

In  the  A.  O.  U.  check-list  the  habitat  of  this  species  is  given  as 
"  Eastern  United  States,  west  to  the  Plains,  and  north  to  southern 
New  England  and  southern  Michigan.  In  winter.  West  Indies 
and  Central  America."  It  is  most  abundant  along  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  has  been  seen  but  rarely  east  of  the  Alleghanies. 
There  is  only  one  record  of  its  occurrence  in  New  England,  —  a  pair 
taken  in  1876,  at  Suffield,  Conn.  Mr.  John  Neilson  reports  that  a 
pair  were  frequently  seen  by  him  near  the  city  of  Quebec  during 
the  early  part  of  July,  1879. 

Those  '/ho  have  heard  the  song  pronounce  it  an  attractive 
melody,  the  tones  being  loud  and  clear  and  the  theme  pleasing. 
Mr.  Wm.  Brewster  ranks  it  among  the  best  of  the  Sylvicoline  per- 
formances. 


black ;  line 
the  sides 

of  loosely 

shades  of 

frequents 
on,  being 


I 


CERULEAN  WARBLER. 

BLUE  WARBLER. 
DENDROICA   CiERULEA. 

Char.  Above,  bright  azure  blue ;  back  streaked  with  black ;  line  of 
dusky  blue  through  the  eyes ;  wings  with  two  white  bars ;  all  tail- 
feathers  but  inner  pair  spotted  with  white ;  beneath,  white ;  breast  and 
sides  streaked  v.ith  dusky  bhie.    Length  i,%  to  5  inches. 

Nest.    In  open  woodland,  on  horizontal  bough  30  to  50  feet  from  the 


VI 


248 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ground ;  of  grass  and  lichens  fastened  with  insect  silk,  lined  with  fine 
grass. 

Eg^ifs,  4 ;  white  with  green  or  blue  tint,  spotted  chiefly  around  the 
larger  end  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.70  X  0.53. 

This  very  delicately  colored  species  is  among  the  rarest 
summer  residents  of  the  Atlantic  States,  and  does  not  probably 
migrate  or  rather  stray  farther  north  than  the  State  of  New 
York.  In  the  Southwestern  States,  particularly  Tennessee  and 
West  Florida,  it  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  species ;  it  is  also 
found  in  the  western  wilderness  beyond  the  Mississippi.  It  is 
only  in  the  summer  that  it  ventures  into  the  Middle  States, 
from  which  it  retires  almost  before  the  first  chills  of  autumn,  or 
by  the  middle  of  August.  It  frequents  the  borders  of  streams 
and  marshes,  and  possesses  many  of  the  habits  of  the  Fly- 
catchers, warbling  also  at  times  in  a  lively  manner,  and 
though  its  song  be  short,  it  is  at  the  same  time  sweet  and 
mellow. 

The  principal  range  of  this  daintily  dressed  songster  is  through 
the  southwestern  division  of  this  Eastern  Province,  between  the 
valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Alleghanian  hills,  north  to  Ohio 
(where  it  is  abundant),  southern  Ontario,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 
It  occasionally  wanders  eastward  to  central  New  York,  Rhode 
Island,  and  Connecticut. 


t 


I 


I 


*> 


MARYLAND  YELLOW-THROAT. 

Geothlypis  trichas. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  duller  on  the  head,  brighter  on  rump;  fore- 
head and  broad  band  on  side  of  head  black,  with  whitish  border ;  beneath 
rich  yellow,  paler  on  the  belly-     Length  4%'  to  ^%  inches. 

iV^j/.  Hidden  by  tuft  of  grass,  or  amid  thicket  of  briers,  usually  in  a 
moist  woodland  or  on  border  of  swamp  ;  composed  exteriorly  of  loosely 
laid  grass,  twigs,  etc.,  lined  with  fine  grass  compactly  woven. 

JS^^s.  4-6 ;  white,  sometimes  creamy,  spotted  around  larger  end  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  often  a  few  black  spots  and  lines  ;  0.70  X  0.52. 

This  common  and  familiar  species  extends  its  summer  mi- 
grations from  Florida  to  Nova  Scotia,  arriving  in  Pennsylvania 
towards  the  middle  of  April,  and  in  this  part  of  New  England 
about  the  first  week  in  May.  The  majority  return  to  the  South 
in  September ;  a  few  stragglers  of  the  young,  however,  may  be 
seen  to  the  first  week  in  October,  and  though  some  may  re- 
main and  winter  in  the  Southern  States,  it  is  more  probable 
that  the  main  body  retire  at  this  season  into  the  interior  of 
tropical  America,  as  they  were  seen  late  in  autumn  around 
Vera  Cruz  by  the  naturalist  and  traveller  Mr.  Bullock.  Early 
in  the  month  of  March,  however,  I  heard  this  species  singing 
in  the  forests  of  West  Florida. 

The  Maryland  Yellow-Throat,  with  cheerful  devotedness  to  the 
great  object  of  his  summer  migration,  —  the  attachments  and 
cares  of  his  species,  —  passes  his  time  near  some  shady  rill  of 
water,  amidst  briers,  brambles,  alders,  and  such  other  shrubbery 
as  grows  in  low  and  watery  situations.    Unambitious  to  be  seen, 


250 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


he  seldom  ascends  above  the  tops  of  the  underwood,  where  he 
dwells,  busily  employed  in  collecting  the  insects  on  which  he 
feeds.  After  these,  like  the  Wren,  he  darts  into  the  deepest 
thicket,  and  threads  his  devious  way  through  every  opening ; 
he  searches  around  the  stems,  examines  beneath  the  leaves, 
and  raising  himself  on  his  peculiarly  pale  and  slender  legs, 
peeps  into  each  crevice  in  order  to  seize  by  surprise  his  tiny 
lurking  prey.  While  thus  engaged,  his  affection  to  his  neigh- 
boring mate  is  not  forgotten,  and  with  a  simplicity,  agreeable 
and  characteristic,  he  twitters  forth  at  short  intervals  his 
^whifitetee  ^whititetee  ^whititetee,  but  his  more  common  song  is 
'whitfitshee  ^whitittshee,  or  ^wetitshee  luetUshee  wee  ;  and  some- 
times I  have  heard  hiy  note  like,  ^wetitshee  wetitshee,  ^wifyu 
we.  On  this  last  syllable  a  plaintive  sinking  of  the  voice  ren- 
ders the  lively,  earnest  ditty  of  the  active  minstrel  peculiarly 
agreeable.  Copying  apparently  from  the  Cardinal  Bird,  the 
song  was,  in  one  instance,  which  came  to  my  notice,  ^vit'iyu 
^vifiyu  ^vifiyu.  The  whole  is  likewise  often  varied  and  lowered 
into  a  slender  whisper,  or  tender  revery  of  vocal  instinct. 
Sometimes  he  calls  out,  teeishoo,  teetshoo,  and  sexnaidedit 
sewaidedit  sewaidttsewee,  or  sewaididit  sewaiditsiwee,  as  he 
busily  darts  through  the  blooming  and  odor-breathing  shrubs 
of  the  grove  or  garden,  which  he  examines  with  minute  atten- 
tion, and  sometimes  springs  perpendicularly  after  his  retreating 
and  discovered  prey.  He  appears  by  no  means  shy  or  sus- 
picious, as  long  as  his  nest  is  unapproached ;  but  for  the  safety 
of  that  precious  treasure  he  scolds,  laments,  and  entreats  with 
great  anxiety. 

The  species  generally  nest  in  the  recluse  thickets  of  the 
forest,  or  the  low  bushy  meadow ;  but  sometimes  they  take  up 
their  abode  in  the  garden,  or  the  field  contiguous  to  the  house, 
and  if  undisturbed,  show  a  predilection  for  the  place  which 
has  afforded  security  to  themselves  and  their  young.  They 
commence  their  labor  of  building  about  the  middle  of  May, 
fixing  the  nest  on  or  near  the  ground,  among  dry  leaves, 
withered  grass,  or  brush,  and  choose  often  for  security  the  most 
intricate  thicket  of  briers,  so  that  the  nest  is  often  sheltered 


MOURNING  WARBLER. 


251 


and  concealed  by  projecting  weeds  and  gr;.ss.  Sometimes  a 
mere  tussuck  of  grass  or  accidental  pile  of  brush  is  chosen. 
It  is  made  of  dry  sedge-grass  ( Carex) ,  and  a  few  leaves  loosely 
wound  together  and  supported  by  the  weeds  or  twigs  where  it 
rests;  the  lining  consists  entirely  of  fine  bent-grass  {Agrostis). 
The  young  leave  the  nest,  here,  about  the  middle  of  June, 
and  a  second  brood  is  sometimes  raised  in  the  course  of 
the  season.  The  parents  and  young  now  rove  about  in 
restless  prying  troops,  and  take  to  the  most  secluded  bushy 
marshes,  where  they  pass  their  time  in  comparative  security 
till  the  arrival  of  that  period  of  scarcity  which  warns  them  to 
depart.  As  early  as  the  close  of  July,  the  lively  song  of  the 
male  ceases  to  be  heard,  and  the  whole  party  now  forage  in 
silence. 

This  species  is  common  throughout  the  settled  portions  of  Can- 
ada, from  the  Atlantic  to  Lake  Huron. 


Note.  —  The  Western  form  has  lately  been  separated  from  true 
trichas  and  given  varietal  rank  with  the  name  G.  trichas  occidentalis. 
Its  habitat  is  from  the  Mississippi  valley  to  the  Pacific.  It  is  some- 
what larger  and  more  brightly  colored  than  is  the  eastern  race. 
Another  geographical  race,  the  Florida  Yellow-throat  {G. 
trichas  ignota),  — lately  described  by  Mr.  Frank  M.  Chapman  from 
specimens  taken  in  Florida  and  Georgia,  —  differs  from  typical 
trichas  in  having  the  yellow  of  under  parts  of  deeper  shade  and 
greater  extent;  the  facial  mask  is  wider  ?1so. 


MOURNING  WARBLER. 

GeOTHLYPIS   PHILADELPHIA. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  neck,  and  breast  ashy  ;  breast  mottled  with 
black  ;  remainder  of  under  parts  yellow.     Length  t,%  to  5_j4  inches. 

A\'st.  In  open  woodland  or  pasture,  on  the  ground  or  in  low  tree  or 
busli ;  of  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  hair. 

E^gs.  3-5 ;  white  or  creamy,  with  brown  and  lilac  spots  wreathed 
around  the  larger  endj  0.70  X  0.54. 

Wilson,  the  discoverer  of  this  curious  species,  never  met  with 
more  than  a  single  individual,  which  in  its  habits  of  frequent- 


252 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ing  marshy  ground,  and  flitting  through  low  bushes  in  quest  of 
insects,  appears  very  simila*  to  the  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 
The  discoverer,  however,  also  distinguished  it  more  importantly 
by  the  novelty  of  its  sprightly  and  pleasant  warble  j  we  may 
therefore  perhaps  consider  it  as  a  solitary  straggler  from  the 
main  body  in  the  western  regions  of  this  vast  continent.  It 
was  shot  in  the  early  part  of  June  near  Philadelphia. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1831,  I  saw,  as  I  believe,  the  male  of 
this  species  in  the  dark  shrubbery  of  the  Botanic  Garden 
(Cambridge).  It  possessed  all  the  manners  of  the  common 
species,  was  equally  busy  in  search  of  insects  in  the  low  bushes, 
and  at  little  intervals  warbled  out  some  very  pleasant  notes, 
which  though  they  resembled  the  lively  chant  of  the  Maryland 
Yellow-throat,  even  to  the  wetitshee^  yet  they  were  more  agree- 
ably varied,  so  as  to  approach  in  some  degree  the  song  of  the 
Summer  Yellow  Bird  {Sylvia  astiva).  This  remarkable  note, 
indeed,  set  me  in  quest  of  the  bird,  which  I  followed  for  some 
time ;  but  at  last,  perceiving  himself  watched,  he  left  the  gar- 
den. As  far  as  I  was  able  to  observe  this  individual,  he  was 
above  of  a  dark  olive-green,  very  cinereous  on  the  fore  part  of 
the  head,  with  a  band  of  black  through  the  eyes,  which  de- 
scended from  the  side  of  the  neck,  where  at  length  it  joined 
with  a  crescent  of  dusky  or  black  spots  upon  the  breast ;  the 
throat  was  yellow  and  the  under  parts  paler. 

Mr.  Townsend  saw  a  specime.  on  the  shady  borders  of  the 
Schuylkill  in  the  month  of  May  last,  and  a  second  individual 
has  been  obtained  by  Mr.  De  Rham  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York. 
Two  or  three  other  specimens  have  also  been  obtained  in  the 
vicinity  of  Philadelphia  and  in  New  Jersey.  It  is,  however, 
still  a  very  rare  species,  and  its  proper  habitation  is  yet  to  be 
discovered. 

This  is  still  a  rare  bird  in  many  localities,  and  it  is  among  the 
desiderata  of  most  collectors ;  yet  within  the  limits  of  its  favorite 
breeding  areas,  —  at  the  higher  altitudes  of  the  Alleghanies ;  on  the 
Berkshire  Hills;  along  the  northern  borders  of  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire;  in  portions  of  New  York;  and  elsewhere  between  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  the  Plains  where  suitable  conditions  of  environ 


^ 


t 


V': 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 


253 


ment  are  obtainable,  —  the  Mourning  Warbler  is  not  at  all  rare, 
and  in  the  West  —  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  Manitoba  —  it  is 
decidedly  abundant.  Evidently  it  has  no  special  liking  for  the 
Maritime  Provinces  nor  for  any  portion  of  Canada  east  of  Lake 
Winnipeg,  for  Canadian  observers  in  general  report  it  rare  or 
uncommon.  Yet  one  of  the  few  nests  that  have  been  discovered 
was  secured  by  Mr.  Kells,  near  Listovvel,  in  Ontario.  This  nest 
was  in  a  cedar  swamp  and  placed  on  the  horizontal  branch  of 
a  small  tree  quite  close  to  the  ground. 

The  examples  I  saw  in  New  Brunswick  were  in  small  flocks, 
and  were  a  very  busy  and  very  merry  company,  —  busy  in  searching 
for  their  food,  moving  in  most  sprightly  and  vivacious  manner, 
and  making  merry  with  sweet  voices.  The  song  consists  of  a  few 
simple  notes,  though  sometimes,  when  hovering  while  on  the  wing, 
it  is  more  elaborate. 


CONNECTICUT  WARBLER. 

GKAV-HEADED  WARBLER. 
CtEOTHLYPIS    AGILIS. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  neck,  and  breast  ashy,  darkest  on  breast 
and  crown ;  white  ring  around  the  eyes ;  chest  and  belly  yellow,  sides 
shaded  with  olive.     Length  ^}i  to  6  inches. 

M'sf.  Hidden  on  a  tuft  of  weeds,  or  sunk  in  mossy  mound,  in  swampy 
woods  ;  composed  of  dried  grass. 

£i,%'s.  4-  .'' ;  creamy,  spotted,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end,  with  black, 
brown,  and  lilac;  0.75  +  0.55. 

This  rare  species,  discovered  by  Wilson  in  Connecticut  and 
afterwards  in  the  neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  appears  to 
frequent  low  thickets,  and  is  exceedingly  active  in  pursuit  of 
its  prey,  scarcely  remaining  a  moment  in  the  same  place. 
Wilson  afterwards  shot  two  specimens  of  a  bird  which  in  every 
particular  agreed  with  the  above,  except  in  having  the  throat 
dull  buff  instead  of  pale  ash.  These  were  both  females,  as  he 
supposed,  of  the  present  species. 

The  history  of  this  bird  is  still  interestingly  obscure,  so  much 
has  yet  to  be  learned ;  but  gleaning  from  records  made  by  obser- 
vers in  various  parts  of  the  country,  I  am  enabled  to  add  a  little  to 
Nuttall's  account. 


V     ) 


254 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


1 


The  bird  has  been  taken  throughout  the  greater  part  of  this 
Eastern  Province ;  Ijut  its  distribution  appears,  from  the  evidence 
so  far  gathered,  to  be  somewhat  peculiar.  It  winters  in  Mexico 
and  southward,  and  in  the  spring  nii-;rcites  wholly  along  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  where  it  is  more  or  less  abundant  north  to  Manitoba, 
though  it  is  rarely  seen  at  that  season  to  the  eastward  of  Ilhnois. 
It  breeds  in  Minnesota,  Dakota,  and  Manitoba,  and  i^-  ''^  au- 
tumn part  of  the  Horks  go  south  along  the  Mississippi,  others 
pass  eastward  along  the  shores  of  the  Great  Lakes,  and  thence  to 
Mass:achusetts,  the  most  northern  limit  of  the  bird's  range  on 
the  Atlantic  side,  where  it  is  common  during  the  first  half  of 
September,  after  which  the  flocks  continue  on  a  gradual  movement 
southward. 

Dr.  Wheaton  considered  the  species  very  rare  in  Ohio,  and  it 
was  thought  to  be  rare  in  Ontario  until  1884,  when  my  friend  Wil- 
liam Saunders  found  it  common  in  the  vicinity  of  London.  The 
only  nest  yet  taken  was  discovered  by  another  friend  and  fellow- 
worker  Ernest  Thompson.  It  was  found  near  Carberry,  Manitoba, 
in  1883,  sunk  amid  a  mossy  mound  in  a  tamarack  swamp,  —  "a 
dark,  gray  waste." 

In  the  West,  during  the  spring  migrations,  these  birds  are  exceed- 
ingly active  and  very  shy,  moving  incessantly  among  the  branches 
in  quest  of  insects,  and  when  approached  darting  into  the  thickest 
covers ;  but  those  I  saw  on  the  Fresh  Pond  marsh  at  Cambridge 
fed  chiefly  on  the  ground,  among  the  leaves,  and  when  disturbed 
flew  generally  but  a  short  distance  to  a  low  branch,  and  sat  as  com- 
posedly as  a  Thrush. 

Thompson  describes  the  song  as  similar  to  the  Golden-crowned 
Thrush,  and  says  it  may  be  suggested  by  the  syllables  beecher- 
beecher-beecher-beecher-beccher-beecher,  sung  at  the  same  pitch 
throughout. 


WORM-EATING  WARBLER. 
Helmitherus  vermivorus. 

Char.  Above,  olive ;  head  buff,  with  four  stripes  of  black  ;  beneath, 
buff,  paler  on  belly.     Length  s>i  to  5^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground,  often  covered  by  a  bush,  or  beside  a  fallen  log; 
of  leaves,  moss,  and  grass,  lined  with  moss,  fine  grass,  or  hair. 

/iV^-^j.  3-6  (usually  5) ;  variable  in  shape  and  color;  white,  sometimes 
with  buff  or  pink  tint,  marked  with  fine  spots  of  reddish  brown  and 
lilac;  0.70  X  0.55. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of 
May,  and  migrate  to  the  South  towards  the  close  of  Septem- 
ber ;  they  were  seen  feeding  their  young  in  that  State  about 
the  25th  of  June  by  Wilson,  so  that  some  pairs  stay  and  breed 
there.  They  are  very  active  and  indefatigable  insect-hunters, 
and  have  the  note  and  many  of  the  manners  of  the  Marsh 
Titmouse  or  Chickadee.  About  the  4th  of  October  I  have  seen 
a  pair  of  these  birds  roving  through  the  branches  of  trees  with 
restless  agility,  hanging  on  the  twigs  and  examining  the  trunks, 
in  quest  probably  of  spiders  and  other  lurking  and  dormant 
insects  and  their  larvae.  One  of  them  likewise  kept  up  a  con- 
stant complaining  call,  like  the  sound  of  tshc  de  de. 

According  to  Richardson  this  species  visits  the  fur  coun- 
tries, where  a  single  specimen  was  procu'ed  at  Cumberland 
House,  on  the  banks  of  the  Saskatchewan.  It  is  found  also  in 
Maine  and  the  British  Provinces  of  New  Brunswick  and  Nova 
Scotia,     Dr.    Bachman   says  that  it  breeds  sparingly  in   the 


256 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


swamps  of  Carolina,  as  he  observed  a  pair  followed  by  three 
or  four  young  ones  nearly  fledged,  all  of  which  already  exhibi- 
ted the  markings  on  the  head. 

Richardson  led  Nuttall  into  a  mistake  regarding  the  distribution 
of  this  species.  It  is  a  Southern  bird,  breeding  cliiefly  south  of  lati- 
tude 40^,  and  occurs  but  rarely  along  the  northern  limit  of  its  range, 
—  southern  New  England,  the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  and 
northern  Illinois.     It  has  not  been  taken  in  the  Provinces. 

Usually  these  birds  feed  on  the  ground  among  the  dead  leaves, 
but  sometimes  rise  amid  the  branches,  as  described  by  Nuttall. 
They  are  not  "shy"  birds,  for  they  will  remain  on  the  nest  until 
fairly  driven  off,  and  when  feeding  are  apparently  indifferent  about, 
being  watched. 


SWAINSON'S  WARBLER. 
Helinaia  svvainsonii. 

Char.  Above,  dull  olive,  head  and  wings  tinged  with  reddish  brown; 
dark  streak  through  the  eyes ;  line  over  eyes  and  under  parts  white  with 
yellow  tint ;  sides  tinged  with  olive.     Length  51^  to  6  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  swamp,  or  near  stagnant  pool,  or  on  dry  upland  ;  in  cane- 
stalk  or  on  bush,  4  to  10  feet  from  the  ground ;  a  bulky  and  inartistic 
affair  of  dead  leaves,  lined  with  r*.  )ts  anf*  pine-needles. 

E^i;gs.     3-4  ;  white  with  blue  tint,  unmarked  ;  0.75  X  o  60. 

Dr.  Bachman,  who  discovered  this  species  near  the  banks 
of  the  Edisto  River,  in  South  Carolina,  remarks :  "  I  was  first 
attracted  by  the  novelty  of  its  notes,  four  or  five  in  number, 
repeated  at  intervals  of  five  or  six  minutes  apart.  These  notes 
were  loud,  clear,  and  more  like  a  whistle  than  a  song.  They 
resembled  the  sound  of  some  extraordinary  ventriloquist  in  such 
a  degree  that  I  supposed  the  bird  much  farther  off  than  it 
really  was ;  for  after  some  trouble  caused  by  these  fictitious 
notes,  I  observed  it  near  me,  and  soon  shot  it."  These  birds 
appear  to  have  a  predilection  for  swampy,  muddy  places,  usu- 
ally more  or  less  covered  with  water.  They  feed  on  coleop  - 
terous  insects  and  the  larvae  which  infest  the  pond-lily.  They 
usually  keep  in  low  bushes,  and  retire  southward  at  the  close 
of  summer.     They  breed,  it  appears,  in  South  Carolina, 


PROTHONOTARY  WARBLER. 


257 


Until  recently,  naturalists  knew  nothing  more  of  this  species  than 
Nuttall  put  inlo  the  above  few  lines ;  and  for  that  information  he  was 
indebted  to  Audubon.  Only  three  examples  were  taken  between 
Audubon's  time  and  1873,  when  Nathan  C.  Brown  captured  three 
more  in  Alabama;  and  eleven  years  afterwards,  in  1884,  William 
Brewster  collected  fifty  specimens  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston, 
and  publishea  in  "  The  Auk  "  for  January,  1885,  an  interesting 
account  of  the  bird's  habits. 

He  reports  that  he  met  with  this  bird  in  dry,  scrubby  woods  or 
open  orange-groves,  though  it  prefers  the  ranker  growth  of  the 
swamps,  to  which  it  appears  to  be  confined  during  the  breeding 
season.  Its  song  is  said  to  be  "very  loud,  very  rich,  very  beau- 
tiful, while  it  has  an  indescribable  tender  quality  that  thrills  the 
senses  after  the  sound  has  ceased." 

The  distribution  of  the  species  has  not  yet  been  very  satisfac- 
torily determined,  but  it  probably  occurs  in  all  the  South  Atlantic 
and  Gulf  States,  and  along  the  Mississippi  valley  north  to  Illinois 
and  Indiana. 


PROTHONOTARY   WARBLER. 


Protonotaria  citrea. 

Char.  Head,  neck,  and  under  parts  golden  yellow ;  back  bright 
olive ;  wings,  tail,  and  rurnp,  bluish  ash  ;  inner  webs  of  tail-feathers  white. 
Length  about  5/^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  margin  of  a  stream  or  pond  or  in  a  swamp ;  a  cavity  in 
dead  tree,  often  a  deserted  nest  of  Woodpecker  or  Chickadee,  generally 
•  near  the  ground  ;  lined  with  leaves  and  moss. 

F^^g^-  4-7  (usually  6);  white,  or  with  buff  tint,  thickly  spotted  with 
brownish  red ;  0.70  X  0.55. 

This  beautiful  species  inhabits  the  Southern  States  commonly 
in  summer,  being  plentiful  in  the  low,  dark,  and  swampy  forests 
of  the  Mississippi  near  New  Orleans,  as  well  as  in  Louisiana 
and  the  wilds  of  Florida.  In  these  solitary  retreats  individuals 
are  seen  nimbly  flitting  in  search  of  insects,  caterpillars,  larvae, 
and  small  land  shells,  every  now  and  then  uttering  a  few  creak- 
ing notes  scarcely  deserving  the  name  of  song.  They  some- 
times, though  very  rarely,  proceed  as  far  north  as  Pennsylvania. 
They  appear  to  affect  watery  places  in  swamps  which  abound 
with  lagoons,  and  are  seldom  seen  in  the  woods.   According  to 


VOL.    I. 


17 


258 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


Dr.  Bachman,  these  birds  breed  in  South  Carolina,  as  he  saw  a 
pair  and  their  young  near  Charleston. 

Thio  species  is  common  in  the  Gulf  States,  and  ranges  along  the 
Mississippi  valley,  being  peculiarly  abundant  in  southern  Illinois 
and  southwestern  Indiana,  but  near  the  Adantic  is  rarely  seen 
north  of  Georgia.  A  few  stragglers  have  been  encountered  in 
New  England,  while  one  has  been  taken  at  St.  Stephen,  New 
Brunswick,  by  Mr.  George  A.  Boardman,  and  another  near  Hamil- 
ton, Ontario,  by  H.  C.  Mcllwraith. 

It  is  said  to  be  more  deliberate  and  thrushlike  in  its  movements 
than  are  its  sprightly  congeners,  the  Dsndroicce.  The  song  most 
frequently  heard  is  described  as  a  simple  but  pleasing  whistle,  like 
that  of  the  solitary  Sandpiper,  though  when  the  singer  is  near  at 
hand,  almost  startling  in  its  intensity.  Mr.  Brewster  mentions 
hearing  another  song  delivered  on  tlie  wing,  and  intended  for  the 
ear  of  the  mate  alone.  It  is  generally  heard  only  after  incubation 
has  commenced,  and  is  low,  but  very  sweet,  and  resembles  some- 
what the  song  of  a  Canary,  delivered  in  an  undertone. 


BLUE-WINGED   WARBLER. 

Helminthophila  pinus. 

Char.  Above,  bri^'Iit  olive ;  wings  and  tail  dull  blue ;  wings  with  two 
white  bars  ;  tail  with  several  white  blotches;  black  line  through  the  eye  ; 
crown  and  under  parts  yellow.     Length  about  5  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  tuft  of  grass  amid  thicket  of  underbrush  or  along  margin  of 
woods;  bulky,  and  loosely  made  of  dried  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined 
with  fine  grass. 

^Sg^'    4-S;  white,  fa  ntly  speckled  with  brown ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

About  the  beginning  of  May  this  species  enters  Pennsylvania 
from  the  South,  and  frequents  thickets  and  shrubberies  in  quest 
of  the  usual  insect  food  of  its  tribe.  At  the  approach  of  win- 
ter, very  different  from  the  Pine  Warbler,  with  which  it  has 
sometimes  been  confounded,  it  retires  to  pass  the  winter  in 
tropical  America,  having  been  seen  around  Vera  Cruz  in 
autumn  by  Mr.  Bullock.  On  its  arrival  it  frequents  gardens, 
orchards,  and  willow  trees,  gleaning  among  the  blossoms,  but 
at  length  withdraws  into  the  silent  woods  remote,  from  the 


BLUE-WINGED  WARBLER. 


259 


'■ 


haunts  of  men,  to  pass  the  period  of  breeding  and  rearing  its 
young  in  more  security. 

The  apparent  distribution  of  this  species,  judged  by  the  records 
of  recent  observations,  is  somewhat  peculiar.  It  seems  to  be 
abundant  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  this  Eastern  Province,  and 
rarely  ranges  east  of  the  Alleghanian  hills  until  north  of  40°,  when 
it  spreads  off  to  the  shores  of  the  Atlantic,  though  seldom  going 
beyond  latitude  42°.  A  few  examples  only  have  been  taken  in 
Massachusetts,  and  though  common  in  Ohio  it  has  not  been  seen 
in  Ontario.  Farther  west  it  is  found  north  to  the  southern  por- 
tions of  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota.  It  winters  south  to 
eastern  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

The  nests  that  have  been  discovered  in  recent  years  are  not 
fashioned  like  that  described  by  Wilson,  for  instead  of  being 
funnel-shaped,  they  have  the  ordinary  cup-like  form. 

Opinions  differ  regarding  the  song,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  it  is  a  rapid  trill  of  strong,  sweet  tones,  limited  m  compass  and 
executed  with  little  art, — a  merry  whistle  rather  than  an  artistic 
melody. 


26o 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


1j 


GOLDEN-WINGED   WARBLER. 


HeLMINTHOPHILA    CHRYSOFIERA. 


Char.  Above,  bluish  gray;  crown  yellow;  side  of  head  yellowish 
•vhite,  with  broad  patch  of  black  from  bill  through  eyes  ;  two  wing-bars, 
yellow  ;  blotches  on  tail  white  ;  beneath,  white  tinged  with  yellow  ;  throat 
black  ;  sides  tinged  with  gray.     Length  about  5  inches. 

Nest.  Amid  a  tuft  of  long  grass,  in  moist  meadow  or  damp  margin  of 
woods  ;  constructed  of  shreds  of  bark,  roots,  etc.,  lined  with  fine  grass. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white  spotted  with  brown  and  lilac;  0.65  X  0.50. 


This  scarce  species  appears  only  a  few  days  in  Pennsylvania 
about  the  last  of  April  or  beginning  of  May.  It  darts  actively 
through  the  leafy  branches,  and  like  the  Titmouse  examines  the 
stems  for  insects,  and  often  walks  with  the  head  downwards ; 
its  notes  and  actions  are  also  a  good  deal  similar,  in  common 
with  the  Worm-eating  Warbler.  I  have  never  yet  seen  it  in 
Massachusetts,  and  if  it  really  does  proceed  north  to  breed,  it 
must  follow  a  western  route. 


The  Golden-wing  still  remains  a  somewhat  "  scarce  "  bird,  but  it 
occurs  regularly  in  Connecticut  and  southern  Massachusetts,  and 
in  some  few  localities  is  often  quite  numerous.  Its  general  breeding 
area  lies  north  of  latitude  40°,  though  nests  have  been  found  among 
the  hills  of  Georgia  and  North  Carolina.  To  the  westward  it  breeds 
in  Ohio,  southern  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  London,  Ontario,  where  Saunders  reports  it  quite  com- 
mon.    It  winters  south  to  Central  America. 


m 


TENNESSEE  WARBLER. 


261 


BACHMAN'S  WARBLER. 

Helminthophila  bachmani. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head  dull  ashy  ;  black  band  across  crown  ;  fore- 
head and  underparts  yellow,  with  large  patch  of  black  on  the  breast ; 
yellow  band  on  wing.     Length  4^  inches. 

jVest.     In  a  low  tree. 

£^g's.  4 ;  dull  white,  heavily  wreathed  around  larger  end  with  dark 
brown  and  spotted  with  lilac ;  0.74  X  0.60. 

This  species  was  first  obtained  a  few  miles  from  Charles- 
ton, S.  C,  in  July  1833,  by  Dr.  Bachman,  after  whom  it  is 
named.  It  appears  to  be  a  lively,  active  species,  frequenting 
thick  bushes,  through  which  it  glides  after  insects,  or  occasion- 
ally, mounting  on  wing,  it  seizes  them  in  the  air.  Several 
individuals  were  seen  in  the  same  neighborhood. 

Nothing  more  was  heard  of  this  interesting  bird  than  the  little 
told  by  Audubon  and  Nuttall,  until  1883,  when  Mr.  H.  B.  Bailey 
descri'  ed  the  nest  and  eggs  from  examples  collected  in  Georgia, 
by  Dr.  S.  W.  Wilson,  somewhere  between  1853  and  1865.  The 
male  and  female  secured  by  Dr.  Bachman  were  the  only  specimens 
taken  until  u3d,  when  a  third  was  .shot  by  Charles  S.  Galbraith, 
in  Louisian:^.,  and  announced  by  Mr.  George  N.  Lawrence  in  "  The 
Auk  "  of  January,  1887.  A  fourth,  taken  in  Florida  in  March,  1887, 
was  announced  by  Dr.  Merriam,  and  during  that  year  others  were 
reported.  Since  then  the  bird  has  been  discovered  to  be  fairly 
common  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States. 

It  is  described  as  an  active,  quarrelsome  bird,  wary  and  difficult 
to  approach.  When  searching  for  food,  its  manner  is  suggestive  of 
the  Parula.  It  frequents  both  shrubbery  and  high  trees,  but  shows 
a  preference  for  the  latter  and  for  a  rather  thick  growth. 


TENNESSEE   WARBLER. 

Hkt-minthophila  peregrina. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brightest  on  rump,  shading  to  ashy  on  head ; 
wings  and  tail  dusky ;  beneath,  white,  with  faint  tint  of  yellow ;  sides  tinged 
with  gray.     Length  4^4  to  4:'4  inches 

A'rsf.  On  a  low  bu.sh  in  open  woodland  ;  made  of  grass,  moss,  and 
vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  hair. 


warn 


262 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


£^^(^s.  0-0  (probably  4  or  5) ;  white,  wreathed  around  larger  end  with 
brown  and  purplish  spots  :  0.65  X  0.50  (?). 

This  rare  and  plain  species  was  discovered  by  Wilson  on 
the  banks  of  Cumberland  River,  in  the  State  of  Tennessee.  It 
was  hunting  with  great  agility  among  the  opening  leaves  in 
spring,  and  like  the  rest  of  the  section  to  which  it  appertains, 
possesses  a  good  deal  of  the  habits  of  the  Titmouse.  Its  notes 
were  few  and  weak,  and  its  food,  a^  usual,  smooth  caterpillars 
and  winged  insects.  It  is  still  so  rare  that  Audubon  never 
saw  more  than  three  individuals,  —  two  in  Louisiana,  and  one  at 
Key  West  in  East  Florida,  all  of  which  were  males. 

Ornithologists  of  the  present  day  do  not  consider  this  Warbler 
quite  so  rare  as  did  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries,  though  it  is 
somewhat  local  in  its  d:stnbution,  and  is  only  met  with  occasionally 
at  many  places  within  its  range.  In  the  Eastern  States  it  is  rather 
rare,  excepting  on  the  northern  border  of  New  York  and  New  Eng- 
land, where  it  breeds ;  but  it  is  more  numerous  in  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  Dr.  Coues  found  it  migrating  in  abundance  along  the 
Red  River,  through  Minnesota  and  Dakota,  while  Thompson 
reports  it  as  "  a  common  summer  resident  "  in  parts  of  Manitoba. 
Dr.  Wheaton  considered  it  rare  in  Ohio,  but  Saunders  reports  it 
"  common  at  times  "  in  the  southern  peninsula  of  Ontario,  while 
Mcllwraith  has  seen  it  but  twice  near  Hamilton.  It  is  rare  in  the 
Ottawa  valley  and  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  while  common  near 
Montreal.  Comeau  says  it  breeds  ui  numbers  near  Point  de 
Monts,  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  Macoun 
reports  it  common  around  Lake  Misstissini.  It  is  not  uncommon  in 
some  few  localities  in  New  Brunswick,  where  it  remains  all  sum- 
mer. Mr.  Walter  Faxon  reports  seeing  an  example  on  Graylock 
and  another  on  the  White  Mountains.  Very  few  nests  have  been 
discovered,  and  one  of  these  was  taken  near  Springfield,  Mass. 

It  is  an  active  bird  and  very  wary,  always  on  the  alert,  —  darting 
rapidly  from  branch  to  branch.  The  song  is  a  sweet-toned,  cheery 
whistle,  —  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  Nashville. 


■' 


i: 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER. 


263 


^ 


Char. 


Above,  olive,  brighter  on  rump ;   head  ashy  gray,  with  con-    ^.^ 


NASHVILLE  WARBLER. 

HeLMINTHOPHILA   RUFICAPILLA. 


cealed  patch  of  reddish  brown ;  yellow  ring  around  the  eyes  ;  beneath, 
bright  yellow,  paler  on  the  belly ;  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Length  4>^  to 
5  inches. 

Nest.  Amid  a  tuft  of  weeds  in  pasture  or  open  woodland  ;  composed 
of  leaves  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  grass,  pine-needles,  or  hair. 

E'.^S'^-  3-5  (usually  4) ;  white  or  creamy,  marked  with  fine  spots  of 
reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  rare  species  was  discovered  by  Wilson  in  the  vicinity  of 
Nashville  in  Tennessee  j  it  also  exists  in  the  neighboring  States 
in  summer,  and  occasionally  proceeds  as  far  north  as  Philadel- 
phia, and  even  the  neighborhood  of  Salem  in  this  State  [Mas- 
sachusetts]. Its  discoverer  was  first  attracted  to  it  by  the 
singular  noise  which  it  made,  resembling  the  breaking  of  small 
dry  twigs,  or  the  striking  together  of  pebbles,  for  six  or  seven 
times  in  succession,  and  loud  enough  to  be  heard  at  the  dis- 
tance of  thirty  or  forty  yards.  A  similar  sound,  produced,  no 
doubt,  by  the  smart  snapping  of  the  bill,  is  given  by  the  Stone- 
chat  of  Europe,  —  which  hence,  in  fact,  derives  its  name.  Au- 
dubon says,  the  male,  while  standing  in  a  still  and  erect  posture, 
utters  a  few  low,  eagerly  repeated,  creaking  notes.  This  spe- 
cies has  all  the  active  habits  of  the  family  to  which  it  more 
particularly  belongs.  Audubon  says  that  these  birds  are  not 
in  fact  rare,  as  he  saw  them  in  considerable  numbers  in  the 
month  of  April,  towards  Texas,  on  their  way  eastward  ;  he  also 
saw  them  in  Maine  and  the  Provinces  of  New  Brunswick  and 
Nova  Scotia.  A  few  proceed  to  Labrador,  and  Dr.  Richardson 
mentions  the  occurrence  of  a  straggler  in  the  fur  countries. 

However  rare  the  Nashville  may  have  been  when  Nuttall  lived 
in  Cambridge,  it  is  not  a  rare  bird  here  to-day.  It  is,  indeed,  a 
common  summer  resident  throughout  New  England  and  the  Mari- 
tine  Provinces,  and  occurs  in  more  or  less  abundance  westward  to 
Manitoba.     It  winters  south  to  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 

On  the  arrival  of  these  birds  in  the  spring  they  frequent  the  sub- 


^« 


■^ 


264 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


urban  gardens  and  orchards,  but  soon  retire  to  a  more  secluded 
place  to  build ;  and  hidden  away  amid  the  thicker  bushes  of  their 
favorite  haunts,  are  often  overlooked  by  the  collector,  —  the  or- 
nithological reporter,  —  and  thus  the  species  has  acquired  a  repu- 
tation of  being  "  uncommon." 

The  song  is  a  typical  Warbler-like  performance,  —  a  short  trill  of 
sweet  notes,  whistled  with  little  variation  in  tone,  and  little  effort 
at  artistic  execution ;  but  I  have  not  heard  any  of  the  "  harsh  " 
and  "creaking"  effects  noted  by  some  writers. 


ORANGE-CROWNED  WARBLER. 

Helminthophila  cfxata. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brightest  on  the  rump ;  crown  with  concealed 
patch  of  brownish  orange ;  line  over  and  around  the  eyes,  pale  yellow; 
iieneath,  pale  greenish  yellow  ;  sides  shaded  with  olive.  Length  4>^  to 
5^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground  among  clumps  of  bushes ;  made  of  grass,  moss, 
and  plant  stems,  lined  with  hair. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  white  or  creamy,  marked,  chiefly  around  the  larger  end, 
with  spots  of  reddish  brown  and  purplish  slate ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  first  discovered,  early  in  May,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Missouri  by  my  friend  Mr.  T.  Say,  appeared  to  be  on  its 
passage  farther  north.  It  is  not  uncommon  in  winter  in  the 
orange-groves  of  West  Florida,  where  it  proceeds  to  pass  the 
season,  around  St.  Augustine ;  and  its  note  is  described  as  a 
mere  chirp  and  faint  squeak,  scarcely  louder  than  that  of  a 
mouse. 

According  to  Audubon,  these  birds  breed  in  the  eastern  part 
of  Maine  and  in  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia.  In  the 
month  of  May  we  saw  them  abundant  in  the  forests  of  the 
Oregon,  where  no  doubt  they  breed.  The  song  is  weak,  some- 
what resembling  that  of  most  of  the  Sylvicolas. 

Audubon  must  have  gathered  in  all  the  New  Brunswick  Orange 
Crowns,  for  none  have  been  seen  there  since  his  visit,  nor  can  I 
learn  of  any  having  been  observed  elsewhere  in  eastern  Canada, 
excepting    the   few  discovered  by  Mcllwraith  and  Saunders  in 


i-'' 


f 


\ 
I 


L'^ 


/ 


KIRTLAND'S  WARBLER. 


265 


southern  Ontario,  and  one  taken  by  Ernest  D.  Wintle  near  Mon- 
treal in  1890. 

Accidental  stragglers  have  been  taken  in  New  England,  but  it  is 
chiefly  a  Western  bird,  breeding  in  the  far  North,  though  it  wiuters 
in  the  Southern  and  Gulf  States. 


KIRTLAND'S  WARBLER. 
Dendroica  kirtlandi. 

Char.  Above,  slate  bhie,  the  feathers  of  head  and  back  streaked  with 
black  ;  line  across  forehead  and  through  the  eyes,  black;  beneath,  yellow, 
breast  and  sides  spotted  with  black  ;  two  white  wing-bars ;  white  blotches 
on  tail.     Length  5J4  to  6  inches. 

Nest  zx\^  Eggs,     Unknown. 

Only  a  few  specimens  of  this  bird,  discovered  by  Dr.  Kirtland, 
near  Cleveland,  in  1851,  have  as  yet  been  seen,  and  these  few  were 
captured  in  Ohio,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Missouri  during  the 
spring  migrations.  Mr.  Charles  B.  Cory  secured  one  in  the  Baha- 
mas in  winter.  The  habits  of  the  bird  are  unknown,  but  Mr. 
Chubb,  who  shot  a  male  and  female  near  Cleveland  in  1880,  says  : 
"  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  are  rather  terrestrial  in  their  habits, 
frequenting  bushy  fields  near  woods." 


Note.  —  The  Carbonated  Warbler  {Dendroica  carbonata), 
mentioned  by  Nuttall  on  the  authority  of  Audubon,  who  killed  two 
specimens  in  Kentucky,  has  been  placed  on  the  "  Hypothetical 
List  "  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee,  as  has  also  the  Blue  Mountain 
Warbler  {Dendroica  montana)  and  the  Small-headed  War- 
bler {Sylvania  microcephala),  mentioned  by  Wilson  and  Audu- 
bon. No  specimens  of  either  have  been  taken  in  recent  years. 
On  this  same  list  has  been  placed  the  Cincinnati  Warbler  {Hel- 
miiithophila  cincinnaiiensis)^  which  is  probably  a  hybrid  of  H. 
pinus  and  G.formosa;  also  Lawrence's  Warbler  {H.  lawrenci) 
and  Brewster's  Warbler  {H.  leucobroiuhialis),  both  supposed 
to  be  hybrids  of  H.  pinus  and  H.  chrysoptera. 

Mr.  F.  M.  Chapman  states  that  he  saw  a  typical  leucobronchialis 
in  New  Jersey  in  May,  1890. 

Townsend's  Warbler  {Dendroica  tcwnsendi),  described  by 
Nuttall  and  named  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  is  a  rare  bird  of  the 
Far  West,  and  its  claim  to  mention  here  rests  on  the  accidental 
occurrence  of  one  example  near  Philadelphia  in  1868. 


HOUSE  WREN. 
wood  wren. 
Troglodytes  aedon. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown  (sometimes  with  dark  bars),  darker  on 
the  head;  below,  brownish  white,  marked  irregularly  with  dark  lines; 
wings  and  tail  with  fine  waved  lines.     Length  about  5  inches. 

A'est.  On  the  eaves  of  houses  or  in  a  barn  or  hollow  tree,  etc. ;  made 
of  grass,  twigs,  etc. ;  the  hole  generally  filled  with  rubbish  and  lined 
with  feathers. 

Et;.?^-  7-9;  white  tinted  with  pink,  densely  marked  with  reddish 
brown;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  lively,  cheerful,  capricious,  and  well-known  little  min- 
strel is  only  a  summer  resident  in  the  United  States.  Its 
northern  migrations  extend  to  Labrador,  but  it  resides  and 
rears  its  young  principally  in  the  Middle  States.  My  friend 
Mr.  Say  also  observed  this  species  near  Pembino,  beyond  the 
sources  of  the  Mississippi,  in  the  Western  wilderness  of  the 
49th  degree  of  latitude.  It  is  likewise  said  to  be  an  inhabitant 
of  Surinam,  within  the  tropics,  where  its  delightful  melody  has 
gained  it  the  nickname  of  the  Nightingale.  This  region,  or 
the  intermediate  country  of  Mexico,  is  probably  the  winter 
quarters  of  our  domestic  favorite.  In  Louisiana  it  is  unknown 
even  as  a  transient  visitor,  migrating  apparently  to  the  east  of 


HOUSE  WREN. 


267 


the  Mississippi,  and  sedulously  avoiding  the  region  generally 
inhabited  by  the  Carolina  Wren.  It  is  a  matter  of  surprise 
how  this,  and  some  other  species,  with  wings  so  short  and  a 
flight  so  fluttering,  are  ever  capable  of  arriving  and  returning 
from  such  distant  countries.  At  any  rate,  come  from  where 
it  may,  it  makes  its  appearance  in  the  Middle  States  about  the 
1 2  th  or  15  th  of  April,  and  is  seen  in  New  England  in  the  latter 
end  of  that  month  or  by  the  beginning  of  May.  It  takes  its 
departure  for  the  South  towards  the  close  of  September  or 
early  in  October,  and  is  not  known  to  winter  within  the  limits 
of  the  Union. 

Some  time  in  the  early  part  of  May  our  little  social  visitor 
enters  actively  into  the  cares  as  well  as  pleasures  which  preside 
instinctively  over  the  fiat  of  propagation.  His  nest,  from  pref- 
erence, near  the  house,  is  placed  beneath  the  eaves,  in  some 
remote  corner  imder  a  shed,  out-house,  barn,  or  in  a  hollow 
orchard  tree  ;  also  in  the  deserted  cell  of  the  Woodpecker,  and 
when  provided  with  the  convenience,  in  a  wooden  box  along 
with  the  Martins  and  Bluebirds.  He  will  make  his  nest  even 
in  an  old  hat,  nailed  up,  and  perforated  with  a  hole  for  en- 
trance, or  the  skull  of  an  ox  stuck  upon  a  pole ;  and  Audubon 
saw  one  deposited  in  the  pocket  of  a  broken-down  carriage. 
So  pertinacious  is  the  House  Wren  in  thus  claiming  the  con- 
venience and  protection  of  human  society  that,  according  to 
Wilson,  an  instance  once  occurred  where  a  nest  was  made  in 
the  sleeve  of  a  mower's  coat,  which,  in  the  month  of  June,  was 
hung  up  accidentally  for  two  or  three  days  in  a  shed  near  a 
barn. 

The  nest  of  this  species,  though  less  curious  than  that 
of  some  other  kinds,  is  still  constructed  with  considerable 
appearance  of  contrivance.  The  external  approach  is  bar- 
ricaded with  a  strong  outwork  of  sticks,  interlaced  with 
much  labor  and  ingenuity.  When  the  nest,  therefore,  is 
placed  beneath  the  eaves,  or  in  some  other  situation  contig- 
uous to  the  roof  of  the  building,  the  access  to  the  inner  fabric 
is  so  nearly  closed  by  this  formidable  mass  of  twigs,  that  a 
mere  portion  of  the  edge  is  alone  left  open  for  the  female. 


268 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


II 


J  * 

:  i 


just  sufficient  for  her  to  creep  in  and  out.  Within  this  judi- 
cious fort  is  placed  the  proper  nest,  of  the  usual  hemispherical 
figure,  formed  of  layers  of  dried  stalks  of  grass,  and  lined  with 
feathers.  The  eggs,  from  6  to  9,  are  of  a  reddish  flesh-color, 
sprinkled  all  over  with  innumerable  fine  grains  of  a  somewhat 
deeper  tint.  They  generally  rear  two  broods  in  the  season: 
the  first  take  to  flight  about  the  beginning  of  June,  and  the 
second  in  July  or  August.  The  young  are  early  capable  of 
providing  for  their  own  subsistence  and  twittering  forth  their 
petulant  cry  of  alarm.  It  is  both  pleasant  and  amusing  to 
observe  the  sociability  and  activity  of  these  recent  nurslings, 
who  seem  to  move  in  a  body,  throwing  themselves  into  antic 
attitudes,  often  crowding  together  into  the  old  nests  of  other 
birds,  and  for  some  time  roosting  near  their  former  cradle, 
under  the  affectionate  eye  of  their  busy  parents,  who  have 
perhaps  already  begun  to  prepare  the  same  nest  for  a  new 
progeny.  Indeed,  so  prospective  and  busy  is  the  male  that 
he  frequently  amuses  himself  with  erecting  another  mansion 
even  while  his  mate  is  still  sitting  on  her  eggs ;  and  this  curi- 
ous habit  of  superfluous  labor  seems  to  be  more  or  less  common 
to  the  whole  genus. 

One  of  these  Wrens,  according  to  Wilson,  happened  to  lose 
his  mate  by  the  sly  and  ravenous  approaches  of  a  cat,  —  an  ani- 
mal which  they  justly  hold  in  abhorrence.  The  f  •  y  after  this 
important  loss,  our  little  widower  had  succeeded  in  introducing 
to  his  desolate  mansion  a  second  partner,  whose  welcome 
appeared  by  the  ecstatic  song  which  the  bridegroom  now 
uttered;  after  this  they  remained  together,  and  reared  their 
brood.  In  the  summer  of  1830  I  found  a  female  Wren  who 
had  expired  on  the  nest  in  the  abortive  act  of  laying  her  first 
egg.  I  therefore  took  away  the  nest  from  under  the  edge  of  the 
shed  in  which  it  was  built.  The  male,  however,  continued 
round  the  place  as  before,  and  still  cheerfully  uttered  his 
accustomed  song.  Unwilling  to  leave  the  premises,  he  now 
went  to  work  and  made,  unaided,  another  dwelling,  and  after 
a  time  brought  a  new  mate  to  take  possession ;  but  less  faith- 
ful than  Wilson's  bird,  or  suspecting  some  lurking  danger,  she 


I 

I 


HOUSE  WREN. 


269 


n- 


forsook  the  nest  after  entering,  and  never  laid  in  it.  But  still 
the  happy  warbler  continued  his  uninterrupted  lay,  apparently 
in  solitude. 

The  song  of  our  familiar  Wren  is  loud,  sprightly,  and  tremu- 
lous, uttered  with  peculiar  animation,  and  rapidly  repeated ;  at 
first  the  voice  seems  ventriloquial  and  distant,  and  then  bursts 
forth  by  efforts  into  a  mellow  and  echoing  warble.  The  trill- 
ing, hurried  notes  seem  to  reverberate  from  the  leafy  branches 
in  which  the  musician  sits  obscured,  or  are  heard  from  the  low 
roof  of  the  vine-mantled  cottage  like  the  shrill  and  unwearied 
pip3  of  some  sylvan  elf.  The  strain  is  continued  even  during 
the  sultry  noon  of  the  summer's  day,  when  most  of  the  feath- 
ered songsters  seek  repose  and  shelter  from  the  heat.  His 
lively  and  querulous  ditty  is,  however,  still  accompanied  by 
the  slower-measured,  pathetic  chant  of  the  Red-eyed  Fly- 
catcher, the  meandering,  tender  warble  of  the  Musical  Vireo, 
or  the  occasional  loud  mimicry  of  the  Catbird ;  the  whole 
forming  an  aerial,  almo!?t  celestial  concert,  which  never  tires 
the  ear.  Though  the  general  performance  of  our  Wren  bears 
no  inconsiderable  resemblance  to  that  of  the  European  species, 
yet  his  voice  is  louder,  and  his  execution  much  more  varied  and 
delightful.  He  is  rather  a  bold  and  insolent  intruder  upon  those 
birds  who  reside  near  him  or  claim  the  same  accommodation. 
He  frequently  causes  the  mild  Bluebird  or  the  Martin  to  relin- 
quish their  hereditary  claims  to  the  garden  box,  and  has  been 
accused  also  of  sucking  their  eggs.  Nor  is  he  any  better  con- 
tented with  neighbors  of  his  own  fraternity  who  settle  near  him, 
keeping  up  frequent  squabbles,  like  other  little  busybodies, 
who  are  never  happy  but  in  mischief;  so  that  upon  the  whole, 
though  we  may  justly  admire  the  fine  talents  of  this  petulant 
domestic,  he  is,  like  many  other  actors,  merely  a  good  per- 
former. He  is  still  upon  the  whole  a  real  friend  to  the  farmer 
and  horticulturist,  by  the  number  of  injurious  insects  and  their 
destructive  larvae  on  which  both  he  and  his  numerous  family 
subsist.  Bold  and  fearless,  seeking  out  every  advantageous 
association,  and  making  up  in  activity  what  he  may  lack  in 
Strength,  he  does  not  confine  his  visits  to  the  cottage  or  the 


270 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


country,  but  may  often  be  heard  on  the  tops  of  houses  even  in 
the  midst  of  the  city,  warbhng  with  his  usual  energy. 

The  House  Wren  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  I\r;issachu- 
setts,  but  is  rarely  seen  north  of  this  State. 

The  only  instance  of  its  occurrence  in  New  Brunswick  is  that  of 
a  pair  seen  at  Grand  Falls  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Batchelder.  It  is  fairly 
common  near  Montreal  and  through  southern  Ontario,  and  is 
abundant  in  Manitoba.  It  winters  in  the  Middle  States  and 
southward. 


I.        !) 

HI 


Note  —  A  Western  form  —  distinguished  from  true a'cdon  by  the 
prevalence  of  gray  on  its  upper  parts  and  its  more  distinct  bars  on 
the  back  —  occurs  from  Illinois  and  Manitoba  westward.  This  is 
Parkmax's  Wren  {T.  acdon parkmanii). 

The  Wood  Wren  (T'.  amen'canus),  mentioned  by  Nuttall  on  the 
authority  of  Audubon,  should  have  been  referred  to  T.  acdon. 


WINTER   WREN. 
Troglodytes  hiemalis. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown,  brightest  on  the  rump,  marked  with  dark 
waved  lines ;  wings  dusky,  wuh  dark  bars  and  white  spots  ;  under  parts 
paler  brown,  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  with  dark  bars.  Length  about 
4  inches. 

JVest  At  the  foot  of  a  moss-covered  stump,  or  under  a  fallen  tree,  or 
amid  a  pile  of  brush;  composed  of  twigs  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers. 

E^i^gs.  4-6 ;  white,  spotted,  chiefly  near  the  larger  end,  with  reddish 
brown  and  purple  ;  0.7c  X  0.50. 

This  little  winter  visitor,  which  approaches  the  Middle  Suues 
in  the  month  of  October,  seems  scarcely  in  any  way  distin- 
guishable from  the  Common  Wren  of  F^urope.  It  sometimes 
passes  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  and  according  to  Audubon 
even  breeds  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp  in  that  State,  as  well  as 
in  New  York.  Early  in  the  spring  it  is  seen  on  its  returning 
route  to  the  Northwest.  Mr.  Say  observed  it  in  summer  near 
the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  it  was  also  seen,  at  the 
same  season,  on  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire  by 
the  scientific  exploring  party  of  Dr.  Bigelow,  Messrs.  Boott 


WINTER  WREN. 


271 


and  Gray,  so  that  it  must  retire  to  the  Western  or  mountainous 
solitudes  .0  pass  the  period  of  incubation.  Mr.  Townsend 
obtained  specimens  of  this  bird  in  the  forests  of  the  Colum- 
bia. During  its  residence  in  the  Middle  States  it  frequents 
the  broken  banks  of  rivulets,  old  roots,  and  decayed  logs  near 
watery  places  in  quest  of  its  insect  food.  As  in  Europe,  it  also 
approaches  the  farm-house,  examines  the  wood-pile,  erecting 
its  tail,  and  creeping  into  the  interstices  like  a  mouse.  It 
frequently  mounts  on  some  projecting  object  and  sings  with 
great  animation.  In  the  gardens  and  outhouses  of  the  city  it 
appears  equally  familiar  as  the  more  common  House  Wren. 

The  Wren  has  a  pleasing  warble,  and  much  louder  than 
might  be  expected  from  its  diminutive  size.  Its  song  likewise 
continues  more  or  less  throughout  the  year,  —  even  during  the 
prevalence  of  a  snowstorm  it  has  been  heard  as  cheerful  as 
ever ;  it  likewise  continues  its  note  till  very  late  in  the  evening, 
though  not  after  dark. 

This  species  is  common  throughout  the  Eastern  States,  breeding 
in  northern  New  England  and  north  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
and  westward  through  northern  Ohio  and  Ontario  to  Manitoba. 
During  the  summer  it  occurs  also,  sparingly,  on  the  Berkshire  Hills 
in  Massachusetts.     It  winters  from  about  40°  southward. 

Had  Nuttall  ever  met  with  the  Winter  Wren  in  its  summer 
haunts ;  had  he  heard  its  wild  melody  break  the  stillness  of  the 
bird's  forest  home,  or  known  of  the  power  controlled  by  that  tiny 
throstle  and  of  its  capacity  for  brilliant  execution ;  had  he  but  once 
listened  to  its  sweet  and  impassioned  tones,  and  the  suggestive 
joyousness  of  its  rapid  tr!ws;  had  Nuttall,  in  short,  ever  heard 
the  bird  sing,  —  he  could  not,  surely,  have  damned  it  with  such 
faint  praise. 

The  song  of  this  Wren  is  not  well  known,  for  the  bird  seldom 
sings  beyond  the  nesting  period,  and  then  is  rarely  heard  away 
from  the  woodland  groves.  But  once  heard,  the  song  is  not  soon 
forgotten  ;  it  is  so  wild  and  sweet  a  lay,  and  is  flung  upon  the 
woodland  quiet  with  such  energy,  such  hilarious  abandon,  that  it 
commands  attention.  Its  merits  entitle  it  to  rank  among  the  best 
of  our  sylvan  melodies. 


•■HBPSWi 


•^. 


CAROLINA   WREN. 

mocking  wren. 

Thrvoihorus  ludovicianus. 

Char.  Above,  reddish  brown,  with  fine  black  bars  ;  below,  tawny  buff  ; 
long  line  over  the  eye  white  or  buff  ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars. 
Length  5^  to  6  inches. 

iVt-st.  In  any  available  hole,  often  in  hollow  tree,  sometimes  in  brush 
heap,  usually  in  the  woods  ;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  etc.,  sometimes 
fastened  with  corn-silk,  lined  with  feathers,  grass,  or  horse-hair. 

A^S'"'^'  3-6 ;  white,  with  pink  or  buff  tint,  thickly  speckled  around 
larger  end  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  remarkable  mimicking  and  Musical  Wren  is  a  constant 
resident  in  the  Southern  States  from  Virginia  to  Florida,  but 
is  rarely  seen  at  any  season  north  of  the  line  of  Maryland  or 
Delaware,  though,  attrnrted  by  the  great  river-courses,  it  is 
abundant  from  Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans.  A  few  individuals 
stray,  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  as  far  as  the  line  of  New 
York,  and  appear  in  New  Jersey  and  the  vicinity  of  Philadel- 
phia early  in  the  month  of  May.  On  the  i  yfh  of  April,  re- 
turning <"om  a  Southern  tour  of  great  extent,  I  again  recognized 
my  old  and  pleasing  acquaintance,  by  his  usual  note,  near 
Chester,  on  the  Delaware,  where,  I  have  little  doubt,  a  few 
remain    and    pass   the    simimer.   retiring   to    the   South    only 


CAROLINA  WREN. 


273 


as  the  weather  becomes  inclement.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Patapsco,  near  Baltimore,  their  song  is  still  heard  to  the  close 
of  November. 

Our  bird  has  all  the  petulance,  courage,  industry,  and  famili- 
arity of  his  particular  tribe.     He  delights  to  survey  the  mean- 
ders of  peaceful  streams,  and  dwell  amidst  the   shady  trees 
which  adorn  their  banks.     His  choice  seems  to  convey  a  taste 
for  the  picturesque  and   beautiful  in  Nature,  himself,  in  the 
foreground,  forming  one  of  the  most  pleasing  attractions  of 
the  scene.     Approaching  the  waterfall,  he  associates  with  its 
murmurs  the  presence  of  the  Kingfisher,  and  modulating  the 
hoarse  rattle  of  his  original  into  a  low,  varied,  desponding  note, 
he  sits  on  some  depending  bough  by  the  stream,  and  calls,  at 
intervals,  in  a  slow  voice,  tee-yUrrh  tee-yurrh,  or  chr'r'r'r'rh. 
In  the  tall  trees  by  the  silent  stream,  he  recollects  the  lively, 
common  note  of  the  Tufted  Titmouse,  and  repeats  the  peto  pcto 
peto  pcct,  or  his  peevish  katctcdid^  kateti'did,  katedid.     While 
gleaning  low,  amidst  fiillen  leaves  and  brushwood,  for  hiding 
and  dormant  insects  and  worms,  he  perhaps  brings  up  the  note 
of  his  industrious  neighbor,  the  Ground  Robin,  and  sets  to  his 
own  sweet  and  liquids  tones  the  simple  towcet  towcct  towecf. 
The  tremulous  trill  of  the   Pine  Warbler  is  then  recollected, 
and  tr' r' r' r' r' r' rh  is  whistled.     In  the  next  breath  comes  his 
imitation  of  the  large   Woodpecker,    woify  woi'/y  woify  and 
ivotchy  wotchy  7votchy,  or  tshove^  tshovec  tshof,  and  tshooddee 
tshooddce  tshooadeet,  then  varied  to  tshuvai  tshuvai  tshiivat,  and 
toovaiiah  toovaiuih  toovai'iatoo.    Next  comes  perhaps  his  more 
musical   and  pleasing  version   of  the  Blackbird's  short  song, 
loottiixhee  loottitshce  wottitshce.     To  the   same  smart  tune  is 
now  set  a  chosen  part  of  the  drawling  song  of  the  Meadow 
\  :xx\  prccedo  prccedo  prcccct,  then  varied,  recede  reeltdo  receet 
and  tecedo  tecedo  tcceet ;  or  changing  to  a  bnss  key,  he  tunes 
sooteei  sooteet  soot.      Once,  I  heard  this  indefatigable  mimic 
attempt  delightfully  the  warble  of  the  Bluebird  in  the  month  of 
February.     The  bold  whistle  of  the  Cardinal  Bird  is  another 
of  the    sounds  he  delights  to  imitate  and  repeat  in  his  own 
quaint  manner  ;  such  as  vit-yu  vit-yu  vit-yu,  and  vishnu  vishnu 

VOT,.   I.  —  iS 


'I 


274 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


vishnUy  then  his  woitee  woitec  woiiee  and  wiltee  wiltee  wiltee. 
Soon  after  I  first  heard  the  note  of  the  White-eyed  Vireo  in 
March,  the  Carolina  Wren  immediately  mimicked  the  note  of 
tecah  ivewd  wittee  weewd.  Some  of  these  notes  would  appear 
to  be  recollections  of  the  past  season,  as  imitations  of  the 
Maryland  Yellow-Throat  {wittisee  zuittisee  wittisee  wit,  and 
slicwaidit  shcwaidit  shewaidit) ,  not  yet  heard  or  arrived  within 
the  boundary  of  the  United  States.  So  also  his  tsherry  tshcrry 
tshcrry  tshup  is  one  of  the  notes  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  yet  in 
South  America. 

While  at  Tuscaloosa,  about  the  20th  of  February,  one  of 
these  Wrens,  on  the  borders  of  a  garden,  sat  and  repeated  for 
some  time  tslic-whickcc  cuhiskee  whiskec,  then  soolait  soolait 
soohiit ;  another  of  his  phrases  is  tshukadce  tshukddce  tsJiukd- 
dcetshoo  and  chjibway  chj^ibway  chj^ihway,  uttered  quick  j  the 
first  of  these  expressions  is  in  imitation  of  one  of  the  notes  of 
the  Scarlet  Tanager.  Amidst  these  imitations  and  variations, 
which  seem  almost  endless,  and  lead  the  stranger  to  imagine 
himself,  even  in  the  depth  of  winter,  surrounded  by  all  the 
quaint  choristers  of  the  summer,  there  is  still,  with  our  capri- 
cious and  tuneful  mimic,  a  favorite  theme  more  constantly 
and  regularly  repeated  than  the  rest.  This  was  also  the  first 
sound  that  I  heard  from  him,  delivered  with  great  spirit,  though 
in  the  dreary  month  of  January.  This  sweet  and  melodious 
ditty,  tsee-toot  tsee-toot  tsee-toof,  and  sometimes  tsce-toot  tsee- 
toot  sect,  was  usually  uttered  in  a  somewhat  plaintive  or  tender 
strain,  varied  at  each  repetition  with  the  most  delightful  and 
delicate  tones,  of  which  no  conception  can  be  formed  without 
experience.  That  this  song  has  a  sentimental  air  may  be  con- 
ceived from  its  interpretation  by  the  youths  of  the  country, 
who  pretend  to  hear  it  say  sweet- heart  sweet-heart  siveet !  Nor 
is  the  illusion  more  than  the  natural  truth ;  for,  usually,  this 
affectionate  ditty  is  answered  by  its  mate,  sometimes  in  the 
same  note,  at  others,  in  a  different  call.  In  most  cases  it  will 
be  remarked  that  the  phrases  of  our  songster  are  uttered  in 
3's  ;  by  this  means  it  will  generally  be  i)racticable  to  distinguish 
its  performance  from  that  of  other  birds,  and  particularly  from 


CAROLINA  WREN. 


275 


the  Cardinal  Grosbeak,  whose  expressions  it  often  closely  imi- 
tates both  in  power  and  delivery.  I  shall  never,  I  believe, 
forget  the  soothing  satisfaction  and  amusement  I  derived  from 
this  little  constant  and  unwearied  minstrel,  my  sole  vocal  com- 
panion through  many  weary  miles  of  a  vast,  desolate,  and 
otherwise  cheerless  wilderness.  Yet  with  all  his  readiness  to 
amuse  by  his  Protean  song,  the  epitome  of  all  he  had  ever 
heard  or  recollected,  he  was  still  studious  of  concealment, 
keeping  busily  engaged  near  the  ground,  or  in  low  thickets,  in 
quest  of  his  food  ;  and  when  he  mounted  a  log  or  brush  pile, 
which  he  had  just  examined,  his  color,  so  similar  to  the  fallen 
leaves  and  wintry  livery  of  Nature,  often  prevented  me  from 
gaining  a  glimpse  of  this  wonderful  and  interesting  mimic. 

Like  the  preceding  species,  he  has  restless  activity  and  a 
love  for  prying  into  the  darkest  corners  after  his  prey,  and  is 
particularly  attached  to  the  vicinity  of  rivers  and  wet  places, 
when  not  surrounded  by  gloomy  shade.  His  quick  and  capri- 
cious motions,  antic  jerks,  and  elevated  tail  resemble  the  actions 
of  the  House  Wren.  Eager  and  lively  in  his  contracted  flight, 
before  shifting  he  quickly  throws  himself  forward,  so  as  nearly 
to  touch  his  perch  previous  to  springing  from  his  legs.  In 
Tuscaloosa  and  other  towns  in  Alabama  he  appeared  frequently 
upon  the  tops  of  the  barns  and  out-houscs,  delivering  with 
energy  his  varied  and  desultory  lay.  At  Tallahassee,  in  West 
Florida,  I  observed  one  of  these  birds  chanting  near  the  door 
of  a  cottage,  and  occasionally  imitating,  in  his  way,  the  squall- 
ing of  the  crying  child  within,  so  that,  like  the  Mocking  Bird, 
all  sounds,  if  novel,  contribute  to  his  amusement. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  Southern  States  and  north  to  40°, 
being  extremely  abundant  in  southern  Illinois,  and  it  occasionally 
wanders  to  northern  Ohio  and  to  Massachusetts. 


Note.  -  The  Florida  Wren  (  T.  ludovicianus  tniainensis)  is 
a  larger,  darker  torm,  which  is  restricted  to  southeastern  Florida. 


2^6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


BEWICK'S  WREN. 

LONG-TAILED    HOUSE   WREN. 
ThRVOTHORUS   BEWlCKII. 

Char.  Above,  chestnut  brown ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars ;  buff 
stripe  over  eye ;  below,  dull  white ;  flanks  brown.  Length  5  to  5J4 
inches. 

Nest.  Almost  anywhere.  In  settled  districts  it  is  usually  built  in  a 
crevice  of  a  house  or  barn ;  but  in  the  woods  a  hollow  tree  or  stump  is 
selected,  or  a  clump  of  bushes.  Composed  of  a  mass  of  leaves,  grass,  etc., 
roughly  put  together. 

Ei:;gs.  4-7  ;  white  or  with  pink  tint,  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of 
reddish  brown  and  purple ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

For  the  discovery  of  this  beautiful  species  of  Wren,  appar- 
ently allied  to  the  preceding,  with  which  it  seems  nearly  to 
agree  in  size,  we  are  indebted  to  the  indefatigable  Audubon,  in 
whose  splendid  work  it  is  for  the  first  time  figured.  It  was 
observed  by  its  discoverer,  towards  the  approach  of  winter,  in 
the  lower  part  of  Louisiana.  Its  manners  are  very  similar  to 
those  of  other  species,  but  instead  of  a  song,  at  this  season  it 
only  uttered  a  low  twitter. 

Dr.  Bachman  found  this  species  to  be  the  most  \  .evalent  of 
any  other  in  the  mountains  of  Virginia,  particularly  about  the 
Salt  Sulphur  Springs,  where  they  breed  and  pass  the  season. 
The  notes  bear  some  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Winter  Wren, 
being  scarcely  louder  or  more  connectv-i  From  their  habit  of 
prying  into  holes  and  hollow  logs  they  are  supposed  to  breed  in 
such  situations.  Mr.  Trudeau  believes  that  they  breed  in  Loui- 
siana. In  the  marshy  meadows  of  the  Wnhlamet  Mr.  Townsend 
and  myself  frequently  saw  this  species,  accompanied  by  the 
young,  as  early  as  the  month  of  >.Tay.  At  this  time  they  have 
much  the  habit  and  manners  of  the  Marsh  Wren,  and  probably 
nest  in  the  tussocks  of  rank  grass  in  which  we  so  frequently 
saw  them  gleaning  their  prey.  They  were  now  shy,  and  rarely 
seen  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp. 

Bewick's  Wren  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley,  but  's 
rarely  seen  cast  of  the  Allcglianies  or  north  of  latitude  40°. 


I_. 


SHORT-BILLED   MARSH    WREN. 


277 


SHORT-BILLED   MARSH  WREN. 

CiSTOTHORUS    STELLARIS. 

Char.  Above,  brown,  very  dark  on  crown  and  back,  and  streaked 
everywhere  with  white  ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars  ;  below,  buffy 
white,  paler  on  throat  and  belly ;  breast  and  sides  shaded  with  brown. 
Length  4^^  inches. 

iVest.  On  the  ground,  amid  a  tuft  of  high  grass,  in  fresh-water  marsh  or 
swampy  meadow  ;  composed  of  grass,  lined  with  vegetable  down.  Usu- 
ally the  tops  of  surrounding  grass  are  weaved  above  the  nest,  leaving  an 
entrance  at  the  side. 

Eggs.    6-8;  white;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  amusing  and  not  unmusical  little  species  inhabits  the 
lowest  marshy  meadows,  but  does  not  frequent  the  reed- flats. 
It  never  visits  cultivated  grounds,  and  is  at  all  times  shy,  timid, 
and  suspicious.  It  arrives  in  this  part  of  Massachusetts  about 
the  close  of  the  first  week  in  May,  and  retires  to  the  South  by 
the  middle  of  September  at  farthest,  probably  by  night,  as  it  is 
never  seen  in  progress,  so  that  its  northern  residence  is  only 
prolonged  about  four  months.  In  winter  this  bird  is  seen  from 
South  Carolina  to  Texas. 

His  presence  is  announced  by  his  lively  and  quaint  song  of 
^tsh  ^tship,  a  day  day  day  day,  delivered  in  haste  and  earnest 
at  short  intervals,  either  when  he  is  mounted  on  a  tuft  of 
sedge,  or  while  perching  on  some  low  bush  near  the  skirt  of 
the  marsh.  The  'fsh  Uship  is  uttered  with  a  strong  aspiration, 
and  the  remainder  with  a  guttural  echo.  While  thus  engaged, 
his  head  and  tail  are  alternately  depressed  and  elevated,  as  if 
the  little  odd  performer  were  fixed  on  a  pivot.  Sometimes  the 
note  varies  to  'tship  Uship  Ushia,  dh'  dh'  dh'  dh\  the  latter 
part  being  a  pleasant  trill.  When  approached  too  closely,  — 
which  not  often  happened,  as  he  never  permitted  me  to  come 
within  two  or  three  feet  of  his  station,  —  his  song  became 
harsh  and  more  hurried,  like  Uship  da  da  da,  and  de  dc  dc  de 
d'  (f  dhy  or  tshc  de  de  de  de,  rising  into  an  angry,  petulant  cry, 
sometimes  also  a  low,  hoarse,  and  scolding  daia^Ii  dai^^/i ;  then 
again  on  invading  the  nest  the  sound  sank  to  a  plaintive  'fsh 


2/8 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


tship^  'tsh  ^^hip.  In  the  early  part  of  the  breeding  season  the 
male  is  very  lively  and  musical,  and  in  his  best  humor  he  tunes 
up  a  ^tship  Uship  tship  a  dec,  with  a  pleasantly  warbled  and 
reiterated  dc.  At  a  later  period  another  male  uttered  little  else 
than  a  hoarse  and  guttural  daigh,  hardly  louder  than  the  croak- 
ing of  a  frog.  When  approached,  these  birds  repeatedly  descend 
into  the  grass,  where  they  spend  much  of  their  time  in  quest  of 
insects,  chiefly  crustaceous,  which  with  moths,  constitute  their 
principal  food  ;  here,  unseen,  they  still  sedulously  utter  their 
quaint  warbling,  and  tship  tship  a  day  day  day  day  may  for 
about  a  month  from  their  arrival  be  heard  pleasantly  echoing 
on  a  fine  morning  from  the  borders  of  every  low  marsh  and  wet 
meadow  provided  with  tussocks  of  sedge-grass,  in  which  they 
indispensably  dwell,  for  a  time  engaged  in  the  cares  and  grati- 
fication of  raising  and  providing  for  their  young. 

The  nest  of  the  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren  is  made  wholly  of 
dry  or  partly  green  sedge,  bent  usually  from  the  top  of  the 
grassy  tuft  in  which  the  fabric  is  situated.  ''  ith  much  inge- 
nuity and  labor  these  simple  materials  are  loosely  entwined 
together  into  a  spherical  form,  with  a  small  and  rather  obscure 
entrance  left  in  the  side ;  a  thin  lining  is  sometimes  added  to 
the  whole,  of  the  linty  fibres  of  the  silk-weed  cr  some  other 
similar  material.  The  eggs,  pure  white  and  destitute  of  spots, 
are  probably  from  6  to  8.  In  a  nest  containing  7  eggs  there 
were  3  of  them  larger  than  the  rest  and  perfectly  fresh,  while 
the  4  smaller  were  far  advanced  towards  hatching ;  from  this 
circumstance  we  may  fairly  infer  that  two  different  individuals 
had  laid  in  the  same  nest,  —  a  circumstance  more  common 
among  wild  birds  than  is  generally  imagined.  This  is  also  the 
moie  remarkable  as  the  male  of  this  species,  like  many  other 
Wrens,  is  much  employed  in  making  nests,  of  which  not  more 
than  one  in  three  or  four  are  ever  occupied  by  the  females. 

The  summer  limits  of  this  species,  confounded  with  the 
ordinary  Marsh-Wren,  are  yet  unascertained ;  and  it  is  singu- 
lar to  remark  how  near  it  approaches  to  another  species  in- 
habiting the  temperate  parts  of  ihe  southern  hemisphere  in 
America,  namely,  the  Sylina  platcnsis,  figured  and  indicated  by 


LONG-BILLED   MARSH  WREN. 


279 


^ 


Bufifon.  The  time  of  arrival  and  departure  in  this  species, 
agreeing  exactly  with  the  appearance  of  the  Marsh  Wren  of 
Wilson,  appears  to  prove  that  it  also  exists  in  Pennsylvania 
with  the  following,  whose  migration,  according  to  Audubon,  is 
more  than  a  month  earlier  and  later  than  that  of  our  bird.  Mr. 
Cooper,  however,  has  not  been  able  to  meet  with  it  in  the 
vicinity  of  New  York,  but  Dr.  Trudeau  found  its  nest  in  the 
marshes  of  the  Delaware. 

This  Wren  occurs  throughout  the  Eastern  Province  north  to 
Massachusetts  on  the  Atlantic,  and  in  the  west  to  Manitoba,  breed- 
ing generally  north  of  40°,  and  wintering  in  the  Gulf  States.  It  is 
found  in  eastern  Canada  only  on  the  marshes  near  Lake  St.  Clair. 


LONG-BILLED   MARSH   WREN. 

CiSTOTHORUS   PALUSTRIS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  reddish  brown,  darker  on  crown  ;  back  black, 
streaked  with  white  ;  white  line  over  eyes ;  wings  and  tail  with  dark  bars ; 
below,  buffy  white,  shaded  on  sides  with  brown.     Length  5  inches. 

At'j/.  In  a  salt  marsh  t  r  reedy  swamp  of  interior,  fastened  to  reeds  or 
cat-tails  or  a  small  bush ;  composed  of  grass  and  reeds,  sometimes 
plastered  with  mud,  lined  with  fine  grass  or  feathers.  It  is  bulky  and 
spherical  in  form,  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

£^i;'^s.  6-10 ;  generally  so  thickly  covered  with  dark-brown  spots  as  to 
appear  uniform  chocolate  with  darker  spots;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  retiring  inhabitant  of  marshes  and  the  wet  and  sedgy 
borders  of  rivers  arrives  in  the  Middle  States  of  the  Union 
early  in  April,  and  retires  to  the  South  about  the  middle  of 
October.  It  is  scarcely  found  to  the  north  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  its  place  in  New  England  being  usually  occupied 
by  the  preceding  species,  though  a  few  individuals  are  known 
to  breed  in  the  marshes  near  Cambridge  and  Boston. 

It  is  a  remarkably  active  ?'  d  quaint  little  bird,  skipping 
and  diving  about  with  great  activity  after  its  insect  food  and 
their  larvse  among  the  rank  grass  and  rushes,  nepr  ponds  and 
the  low  banks  of  rivers,  where  alone  it  affects  to  d'  -ell,  laying 
no  claims  to  the  immunities  of  the  habitable  circle  of  man, 
but  content  with  its  favorite  marshes ;  neglected  and  seldom 


28o 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


seen,  it  rea/s  its  young  in  security.  The  song,  according  to  the 
observations  of  a  friend,  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  preced- 
ing,—  a  sort  of  short,  tremulous,  and  hurried  warble.  Its 
notes  were  even  yet  heard  in  an  island  of  the  Delaware,  oppo- 
site to  Philadelphia,  as  late  as  the  month  of  September,  where 
they  were  still  in  plenty  in  this  sechided  asylum.  Towards  the 
close  of  the  breeding  season  the  song  often  falls  off  into  a  low, 
guttural,  bubbling  sound,  which  appears  almost  like  an  effort  of 
ventriloquism. 

The  nest,  according  to  Wilson,  is  generally  suspended 
among  the  reeds  and  securely  tied  to  them  at  a  sufificient 
height  above  the  access  of  the  highest  tides.  It  is  formed  of 
wet  rushes  well  intertwisted  together,  mixed  with  mud,  and 
fashioned  into  the  form  of  a  cocoa-nut,  having  a  small  orifice 
left  in  the  side  for  entrance.  The  principal  material  of  this 
nest,  as  in  the  preceding  species,  is,  however,  according  to 
Audubon,  the  leaves  of  the  sedge-grass,  on  a  tussock  of  which 
it  also  occasionally  rests.  The  young  quit  the  nest  about  the 
2oth  of  June,  and  they  generally  have  a  second  brood  in  the 
course  of  the  season.  From  the  number  of  empty  nests  found 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  residence  of  the  Marsh  Wren,  it  is 
pretty  evident  that  it  is  also  much  employed  in  the  usual 
superfluous  or  capricious  labor  of  the  genus.  The  pugnacious 
character  of  the  males,  indeed,  forbids  the  possibility  of  so 
many  nests  being  amicably  occupied  in  the  near  neighborhood 
in  which  they  are  commonly  found. 

This  Wren  is  common  in  suitable  localities  in  Massachusetts,  but 
has  not  been  found  farther  northward.  It  occurs  westward  to  the 
Pacific,  and  south  (in  winter)  to  the  Gulf  States.  It  appears  on 
Canadian  territory  only  in  southern  Ontario  and  Manitoba. 


Note.  —  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott  uiscovered  at  Tarpon  Springs,  Flor- 
ida, in  1888,  a  Wren  that  resembles  /ra/us/n's,  but  differs  in  having 
bars  on  the  upper  and  under  tail-coverts ;  also  the  brown  color  has 
a  more  decided  tinge  of  olive  than  of  rufous.  Mr.  Scott  has  named 
the  bird,  in  honor  of  his  wife,  Marian's  Marsh  Wren  {Cisto- 
thorux  viariana).  It  is  common  along  the  southwestern  coast  of 
Florida. 


RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET. 


281 


RUBY-CROWNED   KINGLET. 

Regulus  calendula. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brighter  on  rump;  crown  with  a  concealed  patch 
of  rich  scarlet,  white  at  the  base,  —  wanting  in  female  and  young  ;  white 
ring  around  the  eyes  ;  wings  and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  dull 
buff;  wings  with  two  white  bars,  below,  dull  white  tinged  with  buff. 
Length  about  4^  inches. 

A^est.  In  woodland,  usually  partially  pensile,  suspended  from  extrem- 
ity of  branch,  —  often  placed  on  top  of  branch,  sometimes  against  the 
trunk,  —  on  coniferous  tree,  10  to  30  feet  from  the  ground ;  neatly  and 
compactly  made  of  shreds  of  bark,  grass,  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers  or 
hair. 

Eggs.  6-9 ;  dull  white  or  buff,  spotted,  chiefly  around  larger  end,  with 
bright  reddish  brown;  0.55  X  0.43. 

These  beautiful  little  birds  pass  the  summer  and  breeding 
season  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  North  American  continent, 
penetrating  even  to  the  dreary  coasts  of  Greenland,  where,  as 
well  as  around  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador,  they  rear  their 
young  in  solitude,  and  obtain  abundance  of  the  diminutive 
flying  insects,  gnats,  and  cynips,  on  which  with  small  cater- 
pillars they  and  their  young  delight  to  feed.  In  the  months  of 
October  and  November  the  approach  of  winter  in  their  natal 
regions  stimulates  them  to  migrate  towards  the  South,  when 
they  arrive  in  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  and  frequent  in 
a  familiar  and  unsuspicious  manner  the  gardens  and  orchards ; 
how  far  they  proceed  to  the  South  is  uncertain.  On  the  12th 
of  January  I  observed  them  near  Charleston,  South  Carolina, 
with  companies  of  Sylvias  busily  darting  through  the  ever- 
greens in  swampy  situations  in  quest  of  food,  probably  minute 
lar\ce.  About  the  first  week  in  March  I  again  observed  them 
m  West  Florida  in  great  numbers,  busily  employed  for  hours 
together  in  the  tallest  trees,  some  of  which  were  already  un- 
folding their  blossoms,  such  as  the  maples  and  oaks.  About 
the  beginning  of  April  they  are  seen  in  Pennsylvania  on  their 
way  to  the  dreary  limits  of  the  continent,  where  they  only 
arrive  towards  the  close  of  May,  so  that  in  the  extremity  of 
their  range  they  do  not  stay  more  than  three  months.    Wilson, 


282 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


it  would  appear,  sometimes  met  with  them  in  Pennsylvania 
even  in  summer ;  but  as  far  as  1  can  learn,  they  are  never  ob- 
served in  Massachusetts  at  that  season,  and  with  their  nest  and 
habits  of  incubation  we  are  unacquainted.  In  the  fall  they 
seek  society  apparently  with  the  Titmouse  and  Golden-Crested 
King'et,  with  whom  they  are  intimately  related  in  habits,  man- 
ners, and  diet ;  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  silent,  roving  com- 
pany, with  no  object  in  view  but  that  of  incessantly  gleaning 
their  now  scanty  and  retiring  prey.  So  eagerly,  indeed,  are 
they  engaged  at  this  time  that  scarcely  feeling  sympathy 
for  each  other,  or  willing  to  die  any  death  but  that  of  famine,  • 
they  continue  almost  uninterruptedly  to  hunt  through  the  same 
tree  from  which  their  unfortunate  companions  have  just  fallen 
by  the  destructive  gun.  They  only  make  at  this  time,  occa- 
sionally, a  feeble  chirp,  and  take  scarcely  any  alarm,  however 
near  they  are  observed.  Audubon  met  with  this  species  breed- 
ing in  Labrador,  but  did  not  discover  the  nest ;  its  song,  he 
remarks,  is  fully  as  sonorous  as  that  of  the  Canary,  —  as  pow- 
erful and  clear,  and  even  more  varied. 

This  species  probably  breeds  from  about  latitude  45°  to  the 
lower  fur  countries,  and  on  the  higher  mountains  to  the  southward. 
Few  nests  have  been  discovered.  Rev.  Frank  Ritchie  found  one 
near  Lennoxville,  Quebec,  and  Harry  Austen  has  taken  another 
near  Halifax,  in  which  he  found  1 1  eggs. 

The  full  song  is  much  more  elaborate  and  more  beautiful  than 
the  bird  has  usually  been  credited  with,  for  it  has  been  described 
by  writers  who  have  heard  only  the  thin,  weak  notes  more  gener- 
ally uttered.  Those  who  have  compared  it  to  the  Skylark  and  the 
Canary  have  not  grossly  exaggerated. 


Note.  —  Cuvier's  Kinglet  (/?^<^;//wj  cuvicri)  was  placed  on 
the  "Hypothetical  List"  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee.  The  single 
bird  shot  by  Audubon  in  Pennsylvania  is  the  only  specimen  that 
has  been  obtained. 


GOLDEN-CROWNED   KINGLET. 

Regulus  satrapa. 

Char.  Above,  olive,  brightest  on  the  rump;  crown  with  patch  of 
orange  reel  and  yellow,  bordered  by  black  (female  and  young  lacking  the 
red) ;  forehead  and  line  over  eyes  and  patch  beneath,  dull  white  ;  wings 
and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  dull  buff;  two  white  bars  on 
wings;  below,  dull  white  with  buff  tint.     Length  4  inches 

Nest,  In  damp  coniferous  woods,  often  wholly  or  partially  pendent 
from  small  twigs  near  end  of  branch  (sometimes  saddled  upon  the  branch) 
10  to  50  feet  from  the  ground;  usually  made  of  green  moss  and  lichens, 
lined  at  bottom  with  shreds  of  soft  bark  and  roots,  and  often  with  feathers 
fastened  to  inside  of  edge,  and  so  arranged  that  the  tips  droop  over  and 
conceal  the  eggs ;  sometimes  the  nest  is  a  spherical  mass  of  moss  and 
lichens,  lined  with  vegetable  down  and  wool ;  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

Eggs.  6-10;  usually  creamy  or  pale  buff,  sometimes  white,  unmarked, 
or  dotted  with  pale  reddish  brown  and  lavender  over  entire  surface, 
often  merely  a  wreath,  more  or  less  distinct  around  larger  end;  0.55 

X  045- 

These  diminutive  birds  are  found,  according  to  the  season, 
not  only  throughout  North  America,  but  even  in  the  West 
Indies.  They  appear  to  be  associated  only  in  pairs,  and  are 
seen  on  their  southern  route,  in  this  part  of  Massachusetts,  a 
few  days  in  October,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  or  a 
little  earlier  or  later  according  to  the  setting  in  of  the  season, 
as  they  appear  to  fly  before  the  desolating  storms  of  the  north- 
ern regions,  whither  they  retire  about  May  to  breed.  Some 
few  remain  in  Pennsylvania  until  December  or  January,  pro- 
ceeding probably  but  little  farther  south  during  the  winter. 
They  are  not  known  to  reside  in  any  part  of  New  England, 
retiring  to  the  same  remote  and  desolate  limits  of  the  farthest 
North  with  the  preceding  species,  of  which  they  have  most  of 


284 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


the  habits.  They  are  actively  engaged  during  their  transient 
visits  to  the  South  in  gleaning  up  insects  and  their  lurking 
larvoe,  for  which  they  perambulate  the  branches  of  trees  of 
various  kinds,  frequenting  gardens  anil  orchards,  and  skipping 
and  vaulting  from  the  twigs,  sometimes  head  downwards  like 
the  Chickadee,  with  whom  they  often  keep  company,  making 
only  now  and  then  a  feeble  chirp.  They  ai)pear  at  this  time 
to  search  chiefly  after  spiders  and  dormant  concealed  coleop- 
terous or  shelly  insects ;  they  are  also  said  to  feed  on  small 
berries  and  some  kinds  of  seeds,  which  they  break  open  by 
pecking  with  the  bill  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmouse.  They 
likewise  frequent  the  sheltered  cedar  and  pine  woods,  in  which 
they  probably  take  up  their  roost  at  night.  Early  in  April 
they  are  seen  on  their  return  to  the  North  in  Pennsylvania ;  at 
this  time  they  dart  among  the  blossoms  of  the  maple  and  elm 
in  company  with  the  preceding  species,  and  appear  more  vola- 
tile and  actively  engaged  in  seizing  small  flies  on  the  wing,  and 
collecting  minute,  lurking  caterpillars  from  the  opening  leaves. 
On  the  2ist  of  May,  1835,  I  observed  this  species  feeding 
its  full-fledged  young  in  a  tall  pine-tree  on  the  banks  of  the 
Columbia  River. 

The  range  of  this  species  is  now  set  down  as  "  Eastern  North 
America  west  to  the  Rockies,  breeding  from  the  northern  border 
of  the  United  States  northward,  wintering  in  the  Eastern  States 
and  south  to  Gautemala."  Until  quite  recently  it  was  supposed  to 
be  a  migrant  through  Massachusetts,  wintering  in  small  numbers, 
but  has  been  discovered  breeding  in  both  Berkshire  and  Worcester 
counties.  Nests  have  been  taken  also  on  the  Catskills.  It  is  a 
resident  of  the  settled  portion  of  Canada,  though  not  common  west 
of  the  Georgian  Bay,  and  rarely  breeding  south  of  latitude  45°. 

The  song  is  a  rather  simple  "  twittered  warble,"  shrill  and  high- 
pitched. 


BLUEBIRD. 

SlALIA   SIALIS. 

Char.  Male  :  above,  azure  blue,  duller  on  cheeks;  throat,  breast,  and 
sides  reddish  brown  ;  belly  and  under  tail-coverts  white  ;  shafts  of  feathers 
in  wing  and  tail,  black.  Female  :  duller,  blue  of  back  mixed  with  grayish 
brown ;  breast  with  less  of  rufous  tint.     Length  about  6}^  inches. 

A^esf.  In  a  hollow  tree,  deserted  Woodpecker's  hole,  or  other  excava- 
tion or  crevice,  or  in  a  bird-box  ;  meagrely  lined  with  grass  or  feathers. 

Ei''gs.    4-6  ;  usually  pale  blue,  sometim  s  almost  white  ;  0.85  X  0.65. 

These  well-known  and  familiar  fovorites  inhabit  almost  the 
whole  eastern  side  of  the  continent  of  America,  from  the  48th 
parallel  to  the  very  line  of  the  tropics.  Some  appear  to  mi- 
grate in  winter  to  the  Bermudas  and  Bahama  islands,  though 
most  of  those  which  pass  the  summer  in  the  North  only  retire 
to  the  Southern  States  or  the  tableland  of  Mexico.  In  South 
Carolina  and  Georgia  they  were  abundant  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary, and  even  on  the  12th  and  28th  of  the  former  month,  the 
weather  being  mild,  a  few  of  these  wanderers  warbled  out  their 
simple  notes  from  the  naked  limbs  of  the  long-leaved  pines. 
Sometimes  they  even  pass  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  or  at 
least  make  their  appearance  with  almost  every  relenting  of  the 
severity  of  the  winter  or  warm  gleam  of  thawing  sunshine. 
From  this  circumstance  of  their  roving  about  in  quest  of  their 
scanty  food,  like  the  hard-pressed  and  hungry  Robin  Redbreast, 
who  by  degrees  gains  such  courage  from  necessity  as  to  enter 
the  cottage  for  his  allowed  crumbs,  it  has,  without  foundation, 


286 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


been  supposed  that  our  Bluebird,  in  the  intervals  of  his  absence, 
passes  the  tedious  and  stormy  time  in  a  state  of  dormancy ; 
but  it  is  more  probable  that  he  flies  to  some  sheltered  glade, 
some  warm  and  more  hospitable  situation,  to  glean  his  frugal 
fare  from  the  berries  of  the  cedar  or  the  wintry  fruits  which 
still  remain  ungathered  in  the  swamps.  Defended  from  the 
severity  of  the  cold,  he  now  also,  in  all  probability,  roosts  in 
the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  —  a  situation  which  he  generally 
chooses  for  the  site  of  his  nest.  In  the  South,  at  this  cheer- 
less season,  Bluebirds  are  seen  to  feed  on  the  glutincas  berries 
of  the  mistletoe,  the  green-brier,  and  the  sumach.  Content  with 
their  various  fare,  and  little  affected  by  the  extremes  of  heat 
and  cold,  they  breed  and  spend  the  summer  fiom  Labrador  to 
Natches,  if  not  to  Mexico,  where  great  elevation  produces  the 
most  temperate  and  mild  of  climates.  They  are  also  abundant, 
at  this  season,  to  the  west  of  the  Mitsissippi,  in  the  territories 
of  the  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 

In  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  the  return  of  the  Blue- 
bird to  his  old  haunts  round  the  barn  and  the  orchard  is 
hailed  as  the  first  agreeable  presage  of  returning  spring,  and  he 
is  no  less  a  messenger  of  grateful  tidings  to  the  former,  than 
an  agreeable,  familiar,  and  useful  con^'prnion  to  all.  Though 
sometimes  he  makes  a  still  earlier  il.ttinjj  visit,  from  the  3d  to 
the  middle  of  March  he  comes  hither  a:  a  p.  ananent  resident, 
and  is  now  accom]  inied  by  his  mate,  who  immediate'y  visits  the 
box  in  the  garden,  or  the  hollow  in  the  dec  lyed  orchard  tree, 
which  has  served  as  the  cradle  of  preceding  generations  of  his 
kindred.  Affection  and  jealousy,  as  in  the  contending  and  re- 
lated Thrushes,  have  considerable  influence  over  the  Bluebird. 
He  seeks  perpetually  the  company  of  his  mate,  caresses  and 
soothes  her  with  his  amorous  song,  to  which  she  faintly  replies ; 
and,  like  the  faithful  Rook,  seeks  occasion  to  show  his  gallan- 
try by  feeding  her  with  some  favorite  insect.  If  a  rival  make 
his  appearance,  the  attack  is  instantaneous,  the  intruder  is 
driven  with  angry  chattering  from  the  precincts  he  has  chosen, 
and  he  now  returns  to  warble  out  his  notes  of  triumph  by  the 
side  of  his  cherished  consort.     The  business  of  preparing  and 


BLUEBIRD. 


287 


cleaning  out  the  old  nest  or  box  now  commences ;  and  even 
in  October,  before  they  bid  farewell  to  their  favorite  mansion, 
on  fine  days,  influenced  by  the  anticipation  of  the  season,  they 
are  often  observed  to  go  in  and  out  of  the  box,  as  if  examining 
and  planning  out  theirfuture  domicile.  Little  pains,  however, 
are  requisite  for  the  protection  of  the  hardy  young,  and  a  sub- 
stantial lining  of  hay,  and  now  and  then  a  few  feathers,  is  all 
that  is  prepared  for  the  brood  beyond  the  natural  shelter  of 
the  chosen  situation.  As  the  Martin  and  House  Wren  seek 
out  the  favor  and  convenience  of  the  box,  contests  are  not 
unfrequent  with  the  parties  for  exclusive  possession ;  and  the 
latter,  in  various  clandestine  ways,  exhibits  his  envy  and  hos- 
tility to  the  favored  Bluebird.  As  our  birds  are  very  prolific, 
and  constantly  paired,  they  often  raise  2  and  sometimes  prob- 
ably 3  broods  in  the  season ;  the  male  taking  the  youngest 
under  his  affectionate  charge,  while  the  female  is  engaged  in 
the  act  of  mcubation. 

Their  principal  food  cc  isists  of  insects,  particularly  beetles 
and  other  shelly  kinds ;  they  are  also  fond  of  spiders  and 
grasshoppers,  for  which  they  often,  in  company  with  their 
young,  in  autumn,  descend  to  the  earth,  in  open  pasture  fields 
or  waste  grounds.  Like  our  Thrushes,  they,  early  in  spring, 
also  collect  the  common  wire -worm,  or  lulus,  for  food,  as  well 
as  other  kinds  of  insects,  which  they  commonly  watch  for, 
while  perched  on  the  fences  or  low  boughs  of  trees,  and  dart 
after  them  to  the  ground  as  soon  as  perceived.  They  are 
not,  however,  flycatchers,  like  the  Sylvicolas  and  Muscicapas, 
but  are  rather  industrious  searchers  for  subsistence,  like  the 
Thrushes,  whose  habits  they  wholly  resemble  in  their  mode 
of  feeding.  In  the  autumn  they  regale  themselves  on  various 
kinds  of  berries,  as  those  of  the  sour-gum,  wild-cherry,  and 
others ;  and  later  in  the  season,  as  winter  approaches,  they 
frequent  the  red  cedars  and  several  species  of  sumach  for 
their  berries,  eat  persimmons  in  the  Middle  States,  and  many 
other  kinds  of  fruits,  and  even  seeds,  —  the  last  never  enter- 
ing into  the  diet  of  the  proper  Flycatchers.  They  have  also, 
occasionally,  in  a  state  of  confinement,  been  reared  and  fed 


288 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


on  soaked  bread  and  vegetable  diet,  on  which  they  thrive  as 
well  as  does  the  Robin. 

The  song  of  the  Bluebird,  which  continues  almost  uninter- 
ruptedly from  March  to  October,  is  a  soft,  rather  feeble,  but 
delicate  and  pleasing  warble,  often  repeated  at  various  times 
of  the  day,  but  most  frequently  in  early  spring  when  the  sky 
is  serene  and  the  temperature  mild  and  cheering.  At  this 
season,  before  the  earnest  Robin  pours  out  his  more  energetic 
lay  from  the  orchard  tree  or  fence-rail,  the  simple  song  of  this 
almost  domestic  favorite  is  heard  nearly  alone ;  and  if  at 
length  he  be  rivalled,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  by  superior  and 
bolder  songsters,  he  still  relieves  the  silence  of  later  hours  by 
his  unwearied  and  affectionate  attempts  to  please  and  accom- 
pany his  devoted  mate.  All  his  energy  is  poured  out  into  this 
simple  ditty,  and  with  an  ecstatic  feeling  of  delight  he  often 
raises  and  quivers  his  wings  like  the  Mocking  Orpheus,  and 
amidst  his  striving  rivals  in  song,  exerts  his  utmost  powers  to 
introduce  variety  into  his  unborrowed  and  simple  strain.  On 
hearkening  some  time  to  his  notes,  an  evident  similarity  to  the 
song  of  the  Thrush  is  observable ;  but  the  accents  are  more 
weak,  faltering,  and  inclining  to  the  plaintive.  As  in  many 
other  instances,  it  is  nearly  impossible  to  give  any  approxi- 
mating idea  of  the  expression  of  warbled  sounds  by  words ;  yet 
their  resemblance  to  some  quaint  expressions,  in  part,  may  not 
be  useless,  as  an  attempt  to  recall  to  memory  these  pleasing 
associations  with  native  harmony  :  so  the  Bluebird  often  at 
the  commencement  of  his  song  seems  tenderly  to  call  in  a 
whistled  tone  'hear —  hiar  biity,  buty  ?  or  merely //<v?r — buty, 
and  instantly  follows  this  interrogatory  call  with  a  soft  and  warb- 
ling trill.  So  much  is  this  sound  like  that  which  these  birds 
frequently  utter  that  on  whistling  the  syllables  in  their  accent, 
even  in  the  cool  days  of  autumn,  when  they  are  nearly  silent, 
they  often  resume  the  answer  in  sympathy.  During  the  period 
of  incubation,  the  male  becomes  much  more  silent,  and  utters 
his  notes  princii)ally  in  the  morning.  More  importantly 
engaged,  in  now  occasionally  feeding  his  mate  as  well  as  him- 
self, and  perhaps  desirous  of  securing  the  interesting  occupa- 


BLUEBIRD. 


289 


tion  of  his  devoted  consort,  he  avoids  betraying  the  resort  of 
his  charge  by  a  cautious  and  silent  interest  in  their  fate.  Gen- 
tle, peaceable,  and  familiar  when  undisturbed,  his  society  is 
courted  by  every  lover  of  rural  scenery;  and  it  is  not  un- 
common for  the  farmer  to  furnish  the  Bluebird  with  a  box,  as 
well  as  the  Martin,  in  return  for  the  pleasure  of  his  company, 
the  destruction  he  makes  upon  injurious  insects,  and  the  cheer- 
fulness of  his  song.  Confident  in  this  protection,  he  shows 
but  little  alarm  for  his  undisturbed  tenement ;  while  in  the 
remote  orchard,  expecting  no  visitor  but  an  enemy,  in  com- 
pany with  his  anxious  mate  he  bewails  the  approach  of  the 
intruder,  and  flying  round  his  head  and  hands,  appears  by  his 
actions  to  call  down  all  danger  upon  himself  rather  than  suffer 
any  injury  to  arrive  to  his  helpless  brood. 

Towards  autumn,  in  the  month  of  October,  his  cheerful  song 
nearly  ceases,  or  is  now  changed  into  a  single  plaintive  note 
of  tshdy-w'it,  while  he  passes  with  his  flitting  companions  over 
the  fading  woods ;  and  as  his  song  first  brought  the  welcome 
intelligence  of  spring,  so  now  his  melancholy  plaint  presages 
but  too  truly  the  silent  and  mournful  decay  of  Nature.  Even 
when  the  leaves  have  fallen,  and  the  forest  no  longer  affords  a 
shelter  from  the  blast,  the  faithftil  Bluebirds  still  linger  over 
their  native  fields,  and  only  take  their  departure  in  November, 
when  at  a  considerable  elevation,  in  the  early  twilight  of  the 
morning,  till  the  opening  of  the  day,  they  wing  their  way  in 
small  roving  troops  to  some  milder  regions  in  the  South.  But 
yet,  after  this  period,  iii  the  Middle  States,  with  every  return 
of  moderate  weather  we  hear  their  sad  note  in  the  fields  or  in 
the  air,  as  if  deploring  the  ravages  of  vvinter ;  and  so  frequent 
are  their  visits  that  they  may  be  said  to  follow  fair  weather 
through  all  their  wanderings  till  the  permanent  return  of  spring. 

If  the  Bluebird  ever  tried  the  climate  of  Labrador,  it  evidently 
discovered  that  the  weather  there  was  not  suitable,  for  now  it  rarely 
goes  north  of  latitude  45°.  A  few  pairs  are  seen  every  season 
about  the  farm-lands  on  the  upper  St.  John,  in  New  Brunswick, 
and  Philip  Cox  has  seen  several  at  Newcastle,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Miramichi.  Comeau  found  a  pair  breeding  at  Godlwut,— the 
only  occurrence  reported  recently  from  that  latitude. 
VOL.   1.  —  19 


4, 


WHEA'i'EAR. 
Saxicola  cenanthe. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  gray;  forehead  and  stripe  over  eyes  white; 
patch  on  cheek  and  wings  black;  rump  white;  middle  tail-feathers  black, 
rest  white,  broadly  tipped  with  black;  under  parts  white.  In  the  female 
the  upper  parts  are  brown,  and  under  parts  buff.     Length  6^j  inches. 

A'cst.  In  a  crevice  of  a  stone  wall  or  a  stone  heap ;  made  of  plant 
stems  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers,  hair,  or  rabbit's  fur. 

Eggs.  5-7 ;  pale  blue,  sometimes  spotted  with  pale  tawny,  or  purple ; 
0.85X0.65. 

The  first  mention  of  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  eastern 
America  appeared  in  Holboll's  account  of  the  birds  of  Greenland, 
issued  in  1846;  it  had  been  reported  previously  from  the  Pacific 
coast  by  Vigors.  In  1854  the  name  appeared  in  Cassin's  work, 
and  in  Raird's  "Report"  of  1859  *t  was  recorded  as  "accidental 
in  the  northern  part  of  North  America." 

It  should  not  be  termed  accidental  at  the  present  day,  for  it 
occurs  regularly  in  Greenland  and  Labrador  and  at  God  bout,  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  has  been  taken  in  winter  in  Nova  Scotia, 
Maine,  New  York,  Long  Island,  Louisiana,  and  Bermuda. 

American  writers  formerly  gave  the  vernacular  name  as  "  Stone- 
chat,"  or  "Stone  Chat,"  —  Coues  alone  adding  Wheatear  (as  a 
synonym). 


WHEATEAR. 


291 


The  Stonechat  is  a  different  bird,  though  Magillivray  called 
the  present  species  the  "  White-rumped  Stonechat."  Throughout 
Europe  the  bird  is  commonly  known  as  the  "White-rump,"  and 
Saunders  considers  the  name  "  wheatear  "  a  corruption  of  white 
and  ars,  —  the  Anglo-Saxon  equivalent  of  the  modern  word 
"  rump." 

In  Europe  and  Asia  tiie  species  is  abundant,  breeding  from  cen- 
tral Europe  far  to  the  northward,  and  migrating  in  winter  to  north 
em  Africa.  A  few  winter  in  the  British  Islands,  though  these  may 
be  of  the  Greenland  race,  which  some  authors  think  is  a  distinct 
form,  —  larger  than  those  that  breed  in  Europe,  —  as  the  Green- 
land birds  are  known  to  migrate  across  Great  Britain.  Ridgway 
states  that  the  examples  taken  on  our  western  coast  are  smaller  and 
more  like  those  found  in  central  Europe. 

Formerly  large  numbers  were  trapped  in  the  autumn  on  the 
Southdowns  in  England,  and  marketed,  being  considered  little 
inferior  in  delicacy  to  the  famous  Ortolans. 

The  favorite  resorts  of  the  Wheatear  at  all  seasons  are  the  lonely 
moors  or  open  meadows  by  the  sea-shore.  It  is  an  active  bird  and 
always  alert,  keeping  up  a  perpetual  flitting.  It  is  very  terrrestrial, 
though  the  Greenland  race  is  said  to  perch  on  trees  more  fre- 
quently than  the  European  bird. 

The  song  is  sweet  and  sprightly,  and  the  male  often  sings  while 
hovering  over  his  mate. 

Mr.  Hagerup  writes  to  me  that  the  birds  in  Greenland  sing  at 
times  very  similarly  to  the  Snow  Buntings,  —  a  song  that  he  never 
heard  from  the  Wheatears  of  Denmark, —  and  this  song  is  ren- 
dered by  both  females  and  males. 


AMERICAN    PIPIT. 

TITLAiiK. 

Anthus  pennsylvanicus. 

Char.  Above,  olive  brown,  edges  of  the  feathers  paler;  line  over 
and  around  the  eye  pale  buff ;  wings  dusky,  edges  of  feathers  pale  brown  ; 
tail  dusky,  middle  feathers  olive  brown,  large  patches  of  white  on  outer 
feathers  ;  below,  dull  buff,  breast  and  sides  spotted  with  brown.  Length 
6}4  inches. 

A'l-sf.  On  the  ground,  usually  sheltered  by  stone  or  mound ;  a  bulky 
affair  of  grass,  stems,  moss,  and  lichens,  —  sometimes  only  grass  is  used, 
—  often  loosely  made,  occasionally  compact. 

£;:j^s.  4-6;  variable  in  color,  usually  dull  white  covered  thickly  with 
reddish  brown  and  purplish  brown ;  sometimes  the  markings  so  nearly 
conceal  the  ground  color  as  to  give  appearance  of  a  brown  egg  with 
gray  streaks ;  080  X  0.60. 

This  is  a  winter  bird  of  passage  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  arriving  in  loose,  scattered  flocks  from  the  North,  in 
the  Middle  and  Eastern  States,  about  the  second  week  in 
October.  In  the  month  of  April  we  saw  numerous  flocks 
flitting  over  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  on  their  way,  no  doubt, 
to  their  breeding  quarters  in  the  interior.  Audubon  found 
these  birds  also  in  i  .e  summer  on  the  dreary  coast  of  Labra- 
dor. During  the  breeding  season  the  male  often  rises  on  wing 
to  the  height  of  eight  or  ten  yards,  uttering  a  few  clear  and 


AMERICAN  PIPIT. 


293 


mellow  notes,  and  then  suddenly  settles  down  near  the  nest  or 
on  some  projecting  rock.  They  leave  Labrador  and  New- 
foundland as  soon  as  the  young  are  able  to  fly,  or  about  the 
middle  of  August.  According  to  their  well-known  habits,  they 
frequent  open  flats,  commons,  and  ploughed  fields,  like  a 
Lark,  running  rapidly  along  the  ground,  taking  by  surprise  their 
insect  prey  of  flies,  midges,  and  other  kinds,  and  when  rest- 
ing for  an  instant,  keeping  the  tail  vibrating  in  the  manner  of 
the  European  Wagtail.  They  also  frequent  the  river  shores, 
particularly  where  gravelly,  in  quest  of  minute  shell-fish,  as 
well  as  aquatic  insects  and  their  larvae.  At  this  time  they 
utter  only  a  feeble  note  or  call,  like  tweet  tweet,  with  the  final 
tone  often  plaintively  prolonged ;  and  when  in  flocks,  wheel 
about  and  fly  pretty  high,  and  to  a  considerable  distance  before 
they  alip;ht.  Sometimes  families  of  these  birds  continue  all 
winter  in  the  Middle  States,  if  the  season  prove  moderate.  In 
the  Southern  States,  particularly  North  and  South  Carolina, 
they  appear  in  great  flocks  in  the  depth  of  winter.  On  the 
shores  of  the  Santee,  in  January,  I  observed  them  gleaning 
their  food  familiarly  amidst  the  Vultures,  drawn  by  the  rubbish 
of  the  city  conveyed  to  this  quarter.  They  likewise  frequent 
the  cornfields  and  rice-grounds  for  the  same  purpose.  They 
emigrate  to  the  Bermudas,  Cuba,  and  Jamaica,  and  penetrate 
in  the  course  of  the  winter  even  to  Mexico,  Guiana,  and 
Brazil.  They  also  inhabit  the  plains  of  the  Oregon.  They 
are  again  seen  on  their  return  to  the  North,  in  Pennsylvania, 
about  the  beginning  of  May  or  close  of  April. 

Nests  of  the  Titlark  have  been  found  on  the  mountains  of 
Colorado. 


Note.  —  Two  European  congeners  of  the  Titlark,  the  White 
Wagtail  {^Motacilla  alba):\xi^  the  Meadow  Pipit  {Anthus pra- 
tensis)  have  been  captured  in  Greenland,  but  should  be  considered 
merely  as  "  accidentals  "  in  that  region. 


HORNED    LARK. 

SHORE  LARK. 
OrOCOPiS   ALPESTRIS. 

Char.  Above,  dull  grayish  brown  streaked  with  darker ;  nape,  shoul- 
ders,  and  rump  pink-vinaceous  cinnamon ;  black  bar  across  forehead  and 
along  sides  of  head,  terminating  in  erectile  horn-like  tufts ;  throat  and 
line  over  the  eyes,  yellow;  black  bar  from  nostril  curving  below  the  eyes; 
below,  dull  white,  shaded  on  the  sides  with  same  color  as  back ;  breast 
tinged  with  yellow  and  bearing  large  black  patch;  middle  tail-feathers 
like  back,  the  rest  black,  with  white  patches  on  outer  pair.  Length  about 
7^  inches. 

Nest  On  the  ground,  amid  a  bed  ci  moss ;  composed  of  grass,  lined 
with  feathers. 

Ei::gs.  4-5  ;  dull  white  with  burf  or  purple  tint  spotted  with  purplish 
brown  or  olive  brown  and  lilac;  0.93  X  0.70. 

This  beau*''ful  species  is  common  to  the  north  of  both  the  old 
and  new  continent ;  but,  as  in  some  other  instances  already  re- 
marked, the  Shore  Lark  extends  its  migrations  much  farther  over 
America  than  over  Europe  and  Asia.  Our  bird  has  been  met 
with  in  the  Arctic  regions  by  the  numerous  voyagers,  and  Mr. 
Bullock  saw  it  in  the  winter  around  the  city  of  Mexico,  so  that 
in  their  migrations  over  this  continent  these  birds  spread  them- 
selves across  the  whole  habitable  northern  hemisphere  to  the 
very  equator ;  while  in  Europe,  according  to  the  careful  obser- 


HORNED  LARK. 


295 


vations  of  Temminck,  they  are  unknown  to  the  south  of  Ger- 
many. Pallas  met  with  these  birds  round  Lake  Baikal  and  on 
the  Volga,  in  the  53d  degree  of  latitude.  Westward  they  have 
also  been  seen  in  the  interior  of  the  United  States,  along  the 
shores  of  the  Missouri. 

They  arrive  in  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  late  in  the 
fall  or  commencement  of  winter.  In  New  England  they  are 
seen  early  in  October,  and  disappear  generally  on  the  approach 
of  the  deep  storms  of  snow,  though  straggling  parties  are  still 
found  nearly  throughout  the  winter.  In  the  other  States  to 
the  South  they  are  more  common  at  this  season,  and  are  par- 
ticularly numerous  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  frequenting 
open  plains,  old  fields,  common  grounds,  and  the  dry  shores 
and  banks  of  bays  and  rivers,  keeping  constantly  on  the 
ground,  and  roving  about  in  families  under  the  guidance  of  the 
older  birds,  who,  watching  for  any  approaching  danger,  give 
the  alarm  to  the  young  in  a  plaintive  call  very  similar  to  that 
which  is  uttered  by  the  Skylark  in  the  same  circumstances. 
Inseparable  in  all  their  movements,  like  the  hen  and  her  fos- 
tered chickens,  they  roost  together  in  a  close  ring  or  com- 
pany, by  the  mere  edge  of  some  sheltering  weed  or  tuft  of 
grass  on  the  dry  and  gravelly  ground,  and  thickly  and  warmly 
clad,  they  abide  the  frost  and  the  storm  with  hardy  indiffe- 
rence. They  fly  rather  high  and  loose,  in  scattered  companies, 
and  follow  no  regular  time  of  migration,  but  move  onward  only 
as  their  present  resources  begin  to  fail.  They  are  usually  fat, 
esteemed  as  food,  and  are  frequently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in 
cur  markets.  Their  diet,  as  usual,  consists  of  various  kinds  of 
seeds  which  still  remain  on  the  grass  and  weeds  they  frequent, 
and  they  swallow  a  considerable  portion  of  gravel  to  assist 
their  digestion.  They  also  collect  the  eggs  and  dormant 
larvEe  of  insects  when  they  fall  in  their  way.  About  tht  middle 
of  March  they  retire  to  the  North,  and  are  seen  about  the 
beginning  of  May  round  Hudson  Bay,  after  which  they  are 
no  more  observed  till  the  return  of  autumn.  They  arrive  in 
the  fur  countries  along  with  the  Lapland  Buntings,  with  which 
they  associate  j  and  being  more  shy,  act  the  sentinel  usually  to 


i 


\ 


296 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


the  whole  company  in  advertising  them  of  the  approach  of 
danger.  They  soon  after  retire  to  the  marshy  ami  woody  dis- 
tricts to  breed,  extending  their  summer  range  to  the  Arctic  Sea. 
They  are  said  to  sing  well,  rising  into  the  air  and  warbling  as 
they  ascend,  in  the  manner  of  the  Skylark  of  Europe.  "  The 
male,"  says  Audubon,  like  the  Common  Lark,  "  soars  into  the 
air,  sings  with  cheerfulness  over  the  resort  of  his  mate,  and 
roosts  beside  her  and  his  nest  on  the  ground,  having  at  this 
season  a  very  remarkable  appearance  in  the  development  of 
the  black  and  horn-like  egrets." 

Happy  Nuttall,  to  have  died  before  "variety  making"  came  into 
fashion!  You  had  but  one  form  of  Horned  Lark  to  deal  with, 
while  I  am  confronted  with  eleven.  Fortunutely  a  large  number  of 
these  sub-species  have  never  taken  it  into  their  horned  heads  to 
cross  into  the  territory  under  present  consideration,  so  I  am  saved 
from  puzzling  myself  and  my  readers  with  their  diagnosis. 

The  true  alpcstris  is  found  during  summer  in  the  region  be- 
tween the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  and  Greenland  west  to  Hudson 
Bay,  and  in  winter  south  to  about  latitude  35°.  It  is  quite  common 
along  the  New  England  shores  while  migrating  and  in  winter. 

The  Praiuie  Horned  Lark  {O.  alpestris praticola)  is  a  smaller 
bird  with  very  gray  back  ;  line  over  eyes  white;  ^\n pale  yellow. 

This  race  is  found  in  summer  along  the  upper  Mississippi  valley 
and  Great  Lake  region,  eastward  sparingly  to  Montreal,  Vermont, 
and  Long  Island.  It  is  resident  over  the  greater  portion  of  its 
range,  but  some  few  winter  south  to  the  Carolinas  and  Texas. 


SKYLARK. 

Alauda  arvensis. 

Char.  Above,  yellowish  brown  streaked  with  dark  brown,  darkest  on 
back  and  crown  ;  buff  streak  over  the  eye  ;  wings  brown,  margined  with 
buff  and  tipped  with  white  ;  outer  tail-feathers  mostly  white  ;  below,  pale 
buff,  spotted  and  streaked  with  brown.     Length  about  7  inches. 

A'^esf.  In  a  meadow,  under  a  tuft  of  grass  ;  made  of  coarse  and  fine 
grass. 

A^C^'-f-     3-5;  dull  gray,  marked  with  olive  brown;  0.95  X  0.70. 

Although  not  mentioned  by  Nuttall,  this  European  bird  becomes 
entitled  to  a  place  among  the  birds  of  America  through  its  occur- 
rence casually  in  Greenland  and  Bermuda.  It  also  has  been  in- 
troduced lately  into  New  York  State  and  New  Jersey ;  and  though 
the  success  of  the  experiment  is  not  yet  assured,  recent  reports  of 
the  abundance  and  evident  nesting  of  the  birds  on  Long  Island 
leave  little  doubt  concerning  it. 


11' V 


I: 


298 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


DICKCISSEL. 

BLACK-THROATED   BUNTING. 

SPIZA   AMERICANA. 

Char.  Male:  above,  gray  brown,  middle  of  back  streaked  with 
black  ;  nape  and  side  of  head  ash  ,  crown  olive  streaked  with  dusky  ;  line 
over  the  eyes  yellow ;  chin  white ;  large  patch  of  black  on  throat ;  two 
wing-bars  chestnut ;  edge  of  wing  yellow ;  below,  white  tinged  with  yel- 
low ;  sides  shaded  with  brown.  Female ;  similar,  somewhat  smaller ; 
throat  without  patch,  but  with  black  spots ;  less  tinge  of  yellow  on  lower 
parts.     Length  6  to  7  inches. 

Ni'st.  On  the  prairie  or  in  a  field  or  pasture  or  open  scrubby  woods  ; 
placed  upon  the  ground  or  in  a  bush  or  low  tree,  sometimes  10  to  20 
feet  from  ground ;  made  of  grass,  weed-stalks,  leaves,  and  roots,  lined 
with  fine  grass  or  hair. 

Eggs.    4-5  ;  pale  greenish  blue,  unspotted ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

These  birds  arrive  in  Pennsylvania  and  New  England  from 
the  South  about  the  middle  of  May,  and  abound  in  the  vicinity 
of  Philadelphia,  where  they  seem  to  prefer  level  fields,  building 
their  nests  on  the  ground,  chiefly  of  fine  withered  grass.  They 
also  inhabit  the  prairies  of  Missouri,  the  State  of  New  York, 
the  remote  northern  regions  of  Hudson's  Bay,  and  are  not  un- 
common in  this  part  of  New  England,  dwelling  here,  however, 
almost  exclusively  in  the  high,  fresh  meadows  near  the  salt- 
marshes.  Their  song,  simple  and  monotonous,  according  to 
Wilson  consists  only  of  five  notes,  or  rather  two,  the  first 
being  repeated  twice  and  slowly,  the  second  thrice  and  rapidly, 
resembling  tshsp  tship,  tshe  tshe  tshL  With  us  their  call  is  'tic 
Uic  —  tshe  tshe  tshe  tshtp,  and  tship  tship,  tshe  tshe  tshe  tship. 
From  their  arrival  nearly  to  their  departure,  or  for  two  or  three 
months,  this  note  is  perpetually  heard  from  every  level  field  of 
grain  or  grass  ;  both  sexes  also  often  mount  to  the  top  of  some 
low  tree  of  the  orchard  or  meadow,  and  there  continue  to 
chirp  forth  in  unison  their  simple  ditty  for  an  hour  at  a  time. 
While  thus  engaged  they  may  be  nearly  approached  without 
exhibiting  any  appearance  of  alarm  or  suspicion  \  and  though 
the  species  appears  to  be  numerous,  they  live  in  harmony,  and 


DICKCISSEL. 


299 


rarely  display  any  hostility  to  the  birds  around  them,  or 
amongst  each  other.  In  August  they  become  mute,  and  about 
the  beginning  of  September  depart  for  the  South,  wintering  as 
well  as  breeding  in  Texas  and  other  parts  of  Mexico,  but  are 
not  seen  in  the  Southern  States  at  any  period  of  the  winter. 
Their  food  consists  of  seeds,  eggs  of  insects,  and  gravel,  and  in 
the  early  part  of  summer  they  subsist  much  upon  caterpillars 
and  small  coleopterous  insects ;  they  are  also  among  the  many 
usual  destroyers  of  the  ruinous  cankerworm. 

This  species  occurs  regularly  in  southern  New  England,  but  is 
rather  rare  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  merely  accidental  farther  to 
the  northward.  The  only  examples  that  have  been  met  with  in 
Canada  were  the  few  that  Mr.  William  E.  Saunders  found  breeding 
at  Point  Pelee  in  southern  Ontario. 


NoT^.  —  Townsend's  Bunting  {Spiza  townsendii)  was  placed 
on  the  '•  Hypothetical  List  "  by  the  A.  O.  U.  Committee.  The  type 
specimen  taken  by  Mr.  Townsend  in  Pennsylvania  remains  unique. 

The  Lark  Bunting  {Calamospiza  tnelanocorys)  has  been  seen 
in  Massachusetts,  — the  only  instance  of  its  occurrence  east  of  the 
Great  Plains. 


%,:'t''- 


SNOWFLAKE. 

SNOW   BUNTING.    WHITE  SNOW  BIRD. 

Plectrophf.nax  nivalis. 

Char.  In  summer,  prevailing  color  white :  middle  of  back,  wings,  and 
tail  mixed  with  black.  In  autumn  the  dark  color  is  extended,  the  black 
being  broadly  margined  with  t.'",vny  brown,  which  gradually  becomes  white 
as  winter  advances.     Length  about  6^  inches. 

jVfsf.  On  a  barren  hillside,  under  shelter  of  a  rock  or  in  a  stone  heap, 
sometimes  in  cavity  of  a  sand-bank ;  compactly  built  of  dry  grass,  plant 
stems,  and  moss,  lined  with  feathers  and  hair. 

^i.X-f-  4~^' ;  fJu"  white,  'vith  faint  tint  of  blue  or  green,  spotted,  chiefly 
around  larger  end,  with  reddish  brown  and  lavender ;  0.90  X  0.65. 

This  messenger  of  cold  and  stormy  weather  chiefly  in- 
habits the  higher  regions  of  the  Arctic  circle,  whence,  as  the 
severity  of  the  winter  threatens,  they  migrate  indiflerently  over 
F^urope,  eastern  Asia,  and  the  United  States.  On  their  way  to 
the  South  they  appear  roimd  Hudson  Hay  in  September,  and 
stay  till  the  frosts  of  November  again  oblige  them  to  seek  out 
warmer  quarters.     Ivirly  in  December  they  make  their  descent 


SNOWFLAKE. 


301 


into  the  Northern  States  in  whirling   roving  flocks,  either  im- 
mediately before  or  soon  after  an  inundating  fall  of  snow. 
Amidst  the  drifts,  and  as  they  accumulate  with  the  blast,  flocks 
of  these  illwars  fogel,  or  bad-weather  birds,  of  the  Swedes,  like 
the  spirits  of  the  storm  are  to  be  seen  flitting  about  in  restless 
and  hungry  troops,  at  times  resting  on  the  wooden  fences, 
though  but  for  an  instant,  as,  like  the  congenial  Tartar  hordes 
of  their  natal  regions,  they   appear    now  to  have  no  other 
object  in  view  but  an  escape  from  famine  and  to  carry  on  a 
general  system  of  forage  while   they   happen   to  stay  in  the 
vicinity.     At  times,  pressed  by  hunger,  they  alight  near  the 
door  of  the  cottage  and  approach  the  barn,  or  even  venture 
into   the   out-houses  in  quest  of  dormant  insects,  seeds,   or 
crumbs  wherewith  to  allay  their  hunger ;  they  are  still,  how- 
ever, generally  plump  and  fat,  and  in  some  countries  much 
esteemed  for  the  table.     In  fine  weather  they  appear  less  rest- 
less, somewhat  more  familiar,  and  occasionally  even  at  this 
season  they  chant  out  a  few  unconnected  notes  as  they  survey 
the  happier  face  of  Nature.     At  the  period  of  incubation  they 
are  said  to  sing  agreeably,  but  appear  to  seek  out  the  most 
desolate  regions  of  the  cheerless  North  in  which  to  waste  the 
sweetness  of  their  melody,  unheard  by  any  ear  but  that  of  their 
mates.     \\\  the  dreary  wastes  of  Greenland,  the  naked  Lapland 
Alps,  and  the  scarcely  habitable  Spitzbergen,  bound  with  eter- 
nal ice,  they  pass  the  season  of  reproduction  seeking  out  the 
fissures  of  rocks  on  the  mountains  in  which  to  fix  their  nests 
about  the  month  of  May  or  June.     A  few  are  known  to  breed 
in   the  alpine   declivities  of  the    White    Mountains  of  New 
Hampshire.     The  nest  is  here   fixed  on  the  ground  in  the 
shelter  of  low  bushes,  and  formed  nearly  of  the  same  materials 
as  that  of  the  Common  Song  Sparrow. 

At  times  they  proceed  as  far  south  in  the  United  States  as 
the  State  of  Maryland.  They  are  here  generally  known  by  the 
name  of  the  White  Snow  Bird,  to  distinguish  them  from  the 
more  common  dark-bluish  Sparrow,  so  called.  They  vary  in 
their  color  according  to  age  and  season,  and  have  always  a 
great  predominance  of  white  in  their  plumage. 


302 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


The  Snow  Buntings  are  seen  in  spring  to  assemble  in  Nor- 
way and  its  islands  in  great  numbers ;  and  after  a  stay  of  about 
three  weeks  they  disappear  for  the  season,  and  migrate  across 
the  Arctic  Ocean  to  the  farthest  known  land.  On  their  return 
in  winter  to  the  Scottish  Highlands  their  flocks  are  said  to  be 
immense,  mingling,  by  an  aggregating  close  flight,  almost  into 
the  form  of  a  ball,  so  as  to  present  a  very  fatal  and  successful 
mark  for  the  fowler.  They  arrive  lean,  but  soon  become  fat. 
In  Austria  they  are  caught  in  snares  or  traps,  and  when  fed 
with  millet  become  equal  to  the  Ortolan  in  value  and  flavor. 
When  caged  they  show  a  very  wakeful  disposition,  instantly 
hopping  about  in  the  night  when  a  light  is  produced.  Indul- 
gence in  this  constant  train  of  action  and  perpetual  watchful- 
ness may  perhaps  have  its  influence  on  this  species,  in  the 
selection  of  their  breeding  places  within  the  Arctic  regions, 
where  for  months  they  continue  to  enjoy  a  perpetual  day. 

The  food  of  these  birds  consists  of  various  kinds  of  seeds 
and  the  larvae  of  insects  and  minute  shell-fish  ;  the  seeds  of 
aquatic  plants  are  also  sometimes  sought  by  them,  and  I  have 
found  in  their  stomachs  those  of  the  Ruppia,  species  of  Poly- 
gonum, and  gravel.  In  a  state  of  confinement  they  shell  and 
eat  oats,  millet,  hemp-seed,  and  green  peas,  which  they  split. 
They  rarely  perch,  and,  like  Larks,  live  much  on  the  ground. 

This  harbinger  of  winter  breeds  in  the  northernmost  of  the 
American  islands  and  on  all  the  shores  of  the  continent  from 
Chesterfield  Inlet  to  Hehring's  Straits.  The  most  southerly  of 
its  breeding  stations  in  America,  according  to  Richardson,  is 
Southampton  Island,  in  the  6 2d  parallel,  where  Captain  Lyons 
found  a  nest,  by  a  strange  fatality,  placed  in  the  bosom  of  the 
exposed  corpse  of  an  Esquimaux  child.  Well  clothed  and 
hardy  by  nature,  the  Snow  Hunting  even  lingers  about  the  forts 
of  the  fur  countries  and  open  places,  picking  up  grass-seeds, 
until  the  snow  becomes  deep.  It  is  only  during  the  months 
of  December  and  January  that  it  retires  to  the  southward 
of  Saskatchewan,  and  it  is  seen  again  there  on  its  return 
as  early  as  the  middle  of  February,  two  months  after  which 
it  arrives  in  the  65th  parallel,  and  by  the  beginning  of  May  it 


■^f*-— 


■iMP^*" 


SNOWFLAKE. 


303 


has  penetrated  to  the  coast  of  the  Polar  Sea.  At  this  period  it 
feeds  upon  the  buds  of  the  purple  saxifrage  {Saxi/niga  opposi- 
tifolid),  one  of  the  most  early  of  the  Arctic  plants. 

As  the  Snow  Bunting  sometimes  begins  to  visit  the  United 
States  in  October,  it  appears  pretty  certain  that  some  of  these 
birds  breed  almost,  if  not  quite,  within  the  northern  limits  of 
the  Union ;  and  as  stated  elsewhere,  a  nest  has  been  found 
near  the  rocky  summit  of  the  White  Mountains  of  New 
Hampshire. 

The  Snow  Bunting  is  usually  restricted  in  summer  to  the  higher 
latitudes,  —  from  Labrador  and  the  Great  Slave  Lake  region  to  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  —  but  an  occasional  flock  is  seen  farther  southward, 
and  nests  have  been  taken  in  the  White  Mountains  and  at  Spring- 
field, Mass. 

Mr.  A.  Hagerup,  who  saw  considerable  of  this  bird  when  in 
Greenland,  writes  to  me  that  the  song  is  a  sweet  and  pleasing 
melody,  though  rather  disconnected,  "delivered  in  short  stanzas." 
"  Warbling,"  he  adds,  'is  perhaps  the  English  word  best  suited  to 
describe  its  character." 


5&M 


JrVc-^ 


ja;;r'  tt^^vi:; 


'"Sj^      , 


LAPLAND    LONGSPUR. 

Calcarius  lapponicus. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  dull  buff, 
wing-feathers  with  dull  bay ;  head  and  throat  rich  black  (female  and 
young  have  the  crown  same  as  back)  ;  line  from  eyes  and  down  side  of 
throat,  white;  band  of  bright  chestnut  across  hind-neck;  tail  with  patches 
of  white  on  outer  feathers  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  marked 
with  black ;  bill  yellow,  tipped  with  black  ;  legs  and  feet  black.  Lergtli 
about  6%  inches. 

A't'sf.  In  swampy  moorlands,  amid  deep  moss  or  tuft  of  grass,  or  at 
the  base  of  a  mound ;  composed  of  grass,  plant-stems,  roots,  and  moss, 
lined  with  feathers  or  deer's  hair. 

■^Ay-f-  4-7  ;  P-'ilc  grayish  brown  or  reddish  brown,  marked  with  dark 
brown  ;  0.80  X  o.Go. 

This  species  generally  inhabits  the  desolate  Arctic  regions  of 
both  continents.  In  the  United  States  a  few  stragglers  from 
the  greater  body  show  themselves  in  winter  in  the  remote  and 


anc 


LAPLAND   LONGSrUR. 


305 


;  ! 


unsettled  parts  of  Maine,  Michigan,  and  the  Northwestern 
Territories.  Large  flocks  also  at  times  enter  the  Union,  and 
contrary  to  their  usual  practice  of  resting  and  living  wholly  on 
the  ground,  occasionally  alight  on  trees.  They  leave  the  colder 
Arctic  ileserts  in  the  autumn,  and  are  found  around  Hudson 
Bay  on  their  way  to  the  South  in  winter,  not  making  their 
a])pearance  there  before  November.  Near  Severn  River  they 
haunt  the  cedar-trees,  upon  whose  berries  they  now  princi- 
pally feed.  They  live  in  large  flocks,  and  are  so  gregarious 
that  when  separated  from  their  own  species,  or  in  small  par- 
ties, they  usually,  in  Europe,  associate  with  the  common  Larks, 
or,  in  America,  they  join  the  roving  bands  of  Snow  Birds.  In 
the  fur  countries  they  extend  their  migrations  in  the  spring  as 
far  as  the  65th  parallel,  where  they  were  seen  ab'^ut  Fort 
Franklin  by  the  beginning  of  May  ;  at  this  time  they  fed  much 
upon  the  seeds  of  the  Alpine  arbutus.  They  feed  principally 
on  seeds,  and  also  on  grass,  leaves,  buds,  and  insects.  They 
breed  on  small  hillocks,  among  moss  and  stones,  in  oi)en 
marshy  fields,  and  the  nest  is  thickly  and  loosely  constructed 
of  moss  and  grass,  anil  lined  with  a  few  feathers  and  deer's 
hair.  The  Longspur,  1  '-.3  the  Lark,  sings  only  as  it  rises  in 
the  air,  in  which,  suspended  aloft,  it  utters  a  few  agreeable  and 
melodious  notes. 

The  Longspur  occurs  in  winter  in  South  Carolina,  Kentucky, 
and  Kansas,  though  it  is  not  common  south  of  about  40". 

Of  its  song  Mr.  Hagerup  writes  to  me:  "It  sounds  best  when 
the  bird,  after  mounting  up  in  the  sky,  drops  slowly  to  the  earth 
with  extended  wings.  The  song  is  not  very  long,  but  has  a  sweet, 
tiute-like  lone.  and  tho.gh  the  melody  is  attractive,  it  is  almost  mel- 
ancholy in  its  wild  plaintiveness,  —  as,  indeed,  all  the  notes  of  this 
species  are." 

Note. —  One  example  of  the  Chkstnut-cot.lakfd  Longspur 
{Ca/iiiriiis  ornatiis)  was  captured  in  Massachusetts  in  1S76.  The 
usual  range  of  this  bird  is  limited  to  the  Central  Plains,  —  from 
Texas  to  the  Saskatchewan. 

Smith's  Longspur  {Calcarius  pictus).  •  hich  occurs  in  the  in- 
terior, —  breeding  from  the  Great  Slave  Lake  district  to  the  Arctic 
Ocean, —  is  found,  in  winter,  in  Illinois. 
VOL.  I.  —  20 


^*; 


-m^K-^--<^"' 


.^  \ 


-       "V  - 


X--;- : 


SCARLET  TANAGER. 

PiRANGA    ERYTHROMELAS. 

Char.  Male  :  scarlet,  with  black  wings  and  tail.  Female  and  young . 
above,  olive ;  wings  and  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  edged  with  olive ;  below, 
greenish  vellow.     Length  7  to  7|^  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  woodland  grove,  sometimes  in  an  orchard,  placed  near  the 
extremity  of  a  horizontal  limb  10  to  20  feet  from  the  ground ;  composed 
of  twigs,  roots,  or  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  roots,  sometimes  with 
pine-needles. 

^Aa'-J  3~5  (usually  4) ;  dull  white  or  with  blue  tinge,  thickly  marked, 
chiefly  about  larger  end,  with  p-veral  shades  of  brown  and  lilac ;  0.95 
X  0.65. 

This  splendid  and  transient  resident,  accompanying  fine 
weather  in  all  his  wanderings,  arrives  from  his  winter  station  in 
tropical  America  from  the  beginning  to  the  middle  of  May, 
and  extends  his  migrations  probably  to  Nova  Scotia  as  well  as 
Canada.  With  the  shy,  imsocial,  and  suspicious  habits  of  his 
gaudy  fraternity,  he  takes  up  his  abotle  in  the  deepest  recess 


we- 


SCARLET  TANAGER. 


307 


of  the  forest,  v/here,  timidly  flitting  from  observation,  he  darts 
from  tree  to  tree  Hke  a  flashing  meteor.  A  gaudy  sylph,  con- 
scious of  his  brilliance  and  the  exposure  to  whicji  it  subjects 
him,  he  seems  to  avoid  remark,  and  is  only  solicitous  to  be 
known  to  his  humble  mate,  and  hid  from  all  besides.  He 
therefore  rarely  approaches  the  habitations  of  men,  unless 
perhaps  the  skirts  of  the  orchard,  where  he  sometimes,  how- 
ever, builds  his  nest,  and  takes  a  taste  of  the  early  and  inviting, 
though  forbidden,  cherries. 

Among  the  thick  foliage  of  the  tree  in  which  he  seeks  sup- 
port and  shelter,  from  the  lofty  branches,  at  times  we  hear  his 
almost  monotonous  tship  witee,  tship-'idee,  or  tshukadee,  tshu- 
kciih'e  repeated  at  short  intervals  and  in  a  pensive  undertone, 
heightened  by  the  solitude  in  which  he  delights  to  dwell.  The 
same  note  is  also  uttered  by  the  female  when  the  retreat  of 
herself  and  young  is  approached ;  and  the  male  occasionally 
utters  in  recognition  to  his  mate,  as  they  perambulate  the 
branches,  a  low  whispering  'tai/'m  1  tone  of  caution  and  tender- 
ness. But  besides  these  calls  on  the  female,  he  has  also  dur- 
ing the  period  of  incubatior.,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after, 
a  more  musical  strain,  resembling  somewhat  in  the  mellowness 
of  its  tones  the  song  of  the  fifing  Baltimore.  The  syllables 
to  which  I  have  hearkened  appear  like  Ushoove  \uait  \vait 
*veho7cnt  wait,  and  'wait  'vchowit  vea  wait,  with  other  addi- 
tions of  harmony  for  which  no  words  are  adequate.  This 
pleasing  and  highly  musical  meandering  ditty  is  delivered  for' 
hours,  in  a  contemplative  mood,  in  the  same  tree  with  his 
busy  consort,  if  surprised,  they  flit  together,  but  soon  return 
to  ♦^heir  favorite  station  in  the  spreading  boughs  of  the  shady 
oak  or  hickory.  The  song  resembles  that  of  the  Red-eyed 
Vireo  in  its  compass  and  strain,  though  much  superior,  the 
'7oait  wait  being  whistled  very  sweetly  in  several  tones  and 
with  emphasis,  so  that  upon  the  whole,  our  Piranga  may  be 
considered  as  duly  entitled  to  various  excellence,  being  harmless 
to  the  farmer,  brilliant  in  plumage,  and  harmonious  in  voice. 

These  birds  only  sojourn  long  enough  to  rear  their  single 
brood,  which  are  here  fledged  early  in  July,  leaving  us  already 


308 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


for  the  South  about  the  middle  or  close  of  August,  or  as  soon 
as  the  young  are  well  able  to  endure  the  fatigue  of  an  extensive 
migration  in  company  with  their  parents.  The  female  shows 
great  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  her  only  brood,  and  on  an 
approach  to  the  nest  appears  to  be  in  great  distress  and  appre- 
hension. When  they  are  released  from  her  more  immediate 
protection,  the  male,  at  first  cautious  and  distant,  now  attends 
and  feeds  them  with  activity,  being  altogether  indifferent  to 
that  concealment  which  his  gaudy  dress  seems  to  require  from 
his  natural  enemies.  So  attached  to  his  now  interesting  brood 
is  the  Scarl.  t  Tanager  that  he  ha  'lern  kaown,  at  all  hazards, 
to  follow  for  half  a  mile  one  of  hi  youri',  submitting  to  feed 
it  attentively  through  the  bars  of  a  .<^e,  c.i\d,  with  a  devotion 
which  despair  could  not  damp,  roost  by  in  tiiw  branches  of  the 
same  tree  with  its  prison ;  so  strong,  indeed,  is  this  innate  and 
heroic  feeling  that  life  itself  is  less  cherished  than  the  desire 
of  aiding  and  supporting  his  endearing  progeny  (Wilson). 

The  food  of  the  Scarlet  Tanager  while  with  us  consists 
chiefly  of  winged  insects,  wasps,  hornets,  and  wild  bees,  as 
well  as  smaller  kinds  of  beetles  and  other  shelly  tribes  ;  it 
probably  also  sometimes  feeds  on  seeds,  and  is  particularly 
partial  to  whortleberries  and  other  kinds  which  the  season 
affords. 

About  the  beginning  of  August  the  male  begins  to  moult, 
and  then  exchanges  his  nuptial  scarlet  for  the  greenish  livery 
of  the  female.  At  this  period  these  birds  leave  us ;  and  having 
passed  the  winter  in  the  celibacy  indicated  by  this  humble 
garb,  they  arrive  again  among  us  on  its  vernal  renewal,  and 
so  soon  after  this  change  that  individuals  are  at  this  time  occa- 
sionally seen  with  the  speckled  livery  of  early  autumn,  or  with 
a  confused  mixture  of  green  and  scarlet  feathers  in  scattered 
patches. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  is  common  throughout  this  Eastern  Prov- 
ince north  to  about  latitude  44*^,  and  occurs  sparingly  along  the 
Annapolis  valley,  in  Nova  Scotia  and  along  the  valley  of  the  St. 
John  in  New  Brunswick,  also  near  the  city  of  Quebec  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Winnipeg.  It  winters  in  the  West  Indies  and 
northern  South  America. 


SUMMER  TANAGER.  309 


SUMMER  TANAGER. 

SUMMER   KEU-BIRD. 

PiRANGA   RUBRA. 

■V 

Char.  Male :  rich  vermilion,  duller  above.  Female  and  young : 
above,  dull  olive  ;  below,  dull  buff.     Length  about  7^^  inches. 

Aesi.  On  the  edge  of  an  open  grove  or  by  a  roadside,  placed  near 
the  extremity  of  a  horizontal  limb ;  composed  of  grass,  leaves,  and  vege- 
table fibre,  lined  with  grass. 

.£|j,yj.  3-4;  bright  green,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  of  blue,  spotted, 
chiefly  near  the  larger  end,  with  various  shades  of  brown  and  purple ; 
0.95  X  0.65. 

This  brilliant  and  transient  resident,  like  the  former  species, 
passes  che  greatest  part  of  the  year  in  tropical  America,  whence 
in  his  gaudy  nuptial  suit  he  presents  himself  with  his  humble 
mate  in  the  Southern  States  in  the  latter  end  of  April  or  by 
the  I  St  of  May.  In  Pennsylvania  these  birds  are  but  rarely 
seen,  though  in  the  warm  and  sandy  barren  forests  of  New 
Jersey  several  pairs  may  usually  be  observed  in  the  course  of 
every  season ;  farther  north  they  are  unknown,  ceding  those 
regions  apparently  to  the  scarlet  species.  They  are  not  con- 
fined to  any  particular  soil,  though  often  met  with  in  bushy, 
barren  tracts,  and  are  consequently  common  even  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississippi,  in  Louisiana  and  the  Territory  of  Arkansas, 
as  well  as  Mexico ;  they  also  breed  near  the  banks  of  that 
river  around  Natchez. 

The  nest  is  built  in  the  woods  on  the  low,  horizontal  branch 
of  a  tree,  often  in  an  evergreen  i  o  or  12  feet  from  the  ground. 
Both  parents  assist  in  incubation,  and  the  young  are  fledged 
by  the  middle  or  latter  end  of  June.  They  only  raise  a  single 
brood  in  the  season,  and  towards  the  middle  or  close  of 
August  the  whole  party  disappear  on  their  way  to  the  South, 
though  the  young  remain  later  than  the  old  and  more  restless 
birds. 

The  note  of  the  male,  like  that  of  the  Baltimore  Bird,  is  said 
to  be  a  strong  and  sonorous  whistle,  resembling  the  trill  or 


i 


m 


16  i 


310 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


musical  shake  on  the  fife,  and  is  frequently  repeated.  The 
note  of  the  female  is  a  chattering,  and  appears  almost  like  the 
rapid  pronunciation  of  tshicky-tukky-tuk,  tshicky-tukky-tuky  and 
is  chiefly  uttered  in  alarm  when  any  person  approaches  the 
vicinity  of  her  nest.  From  the  similarity  of  her  color  to  the 
foliage  of  the  trees,  she  is,  however,  rarely  seen,  and  is  usually 
mute ;  while  the  loquacity  and  brilliance  of  the  male  render 
him,  as  he  flits  timidly  and  wildly  through  the  branches,  a  most 
distinguishes  and  beautiful  object 

The  food  of  the  Summer  Red  Bird  is  very  similar  to  that  of 
the  preceding  species ;  bugs,  beetles,  and  stinging  bees  make 
part  of  his  repast,  as  well  as  flies  and  cynips  of  various  kinds, 
after  which  he  often  darts  about  until  hindered  by  the  ap- 
proach of  night.  The  late  suppers  are  probably  necessary, 
from  the  almost  nocturnal  habits  of  some  of  these  insect 
tribes.  After  the  period  of  incubation,  and  until  their  depar- 
ture, whortleberries  and  other  kinds  of  berries  form  no  incon- 
siderable part  of  the  food  of  these  birds. 

This  species  does  not  occur  ree;ularly  north  of  New  Jersey, 
southern  Ohio,  and  southern  Illinc  is.  Occasionally  stragglers  are 
found  in  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  and  two  examples  have 
been  taken  in  New  Brunswick,  one  in  Nova  Scotia,  four  near 
Montreal,  and  one  at  Hamilton,  Ontario. 


Note.  —  One  specimen  of  the  Louisiana  Tanager  {Piranga 
ludoviciana)  —  a  Western  species  —  has  been  taken  in  New  Eng- 
land.    It  was  shot  near  Lynn  in  1878. 


INDIGO   BUNTING. 
Passerina  cyanea. 

Char.  Male :  indigo  blue,  intense  on  head  and  throat,  other  parts 
tinged  with  green  ;  black  bar  from  bill  to  eyes ;  wings  dull  brown,  the 
edge  of  feathers  tinged  with  dull  blue.  Female :  above,  brown ;  below, 
much  paler,  with  dark  streaks.     Length  about  5H  inches. 

Nest,  On  the  margin  of  a  meadow  or  country  road,  or  in  an  orchard 
or  garden,  in  a  bush  or  low  tree,  placed  in  an  upright  crotch ;  a  rather 


wmmmm 


INDIGO  BUNTING. 


311 


clumsy  and  bulky  affair  of  twigs,  stems,  grass,  etc.,  lined  with  fine  grass, 
etc.,  sometimes  with  horse-hair. 

Eii,\i,'s.  4-5 ;  white,  sometimes  with  blue  or  green  tint,  occasionally  with 
a  few  fine  spots  of  purplish  brown;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  very  beautiful  and  rather  familiar  messenger  of  summer, 
after  passing  the  winter  in  tropical  America,  towards  the  15  th 
of  May,  decked  in  his  brilliant  azure  livery  of  the  nuptial  sea- 
son, again  joyfully  visits  his  natal  regions  in  the  Middle  States ; 
and  about  a  week  or  ten  days  later  his  lively  trill  in  the  garden, 
orchard,  or  on  the  top  of  the  house,  its  chimney,  or  vane,  is 
first  heard  in  this  part  of  New  England.  Still  later,  accompa- 
nied by  his  mate,  he  passes  on  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  probably  to 
the  precincts  of  Labrador.  After  raising  and  training  their 
only  brood  in  a  uniform  and  more  humble  dress,  the  whole 
family,  in  color  like  so  many  common  Sparrows,  begin  to 
retire  to  the  South  from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  September. 
They  are  also  known  in  Mexico,  where,  as  well  as  in  the 
Southern  States  to  the  peninsula  of  Florida,  they  breed  and 
pass  the  summer  as  with  us.  There  is  reason,  however,  to 
believe  that  they  are  less  abundant,  if  seen  at  all,  to  the  west 
of  the  Mississippi ;  but  yet  they  are  met  with  in  the  Western 
States  up  to  the  alluvial  lands  of  that  great  natural  boundary. 

Their  food  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  as  well  as  that  of 
their  young  for  a  considerable  time,  is  chiefly  insects,  worms, 
and  caterpillars,  as  well  as  grasshoppers,  of  which  they  are 
particularly  fond.  They  likewise  eat  seeds  of  various  kinds, 
and  are  readily  reared  in  a  cage  on  the  usual  diet  of  the 
Canary. 

Though  naturally  shy,  active,  and  suspicious,  particularly  the 
brilliant  male,  they  still  at  this  interesting  period  of  procrea- 
tion resort  chiefly  to  the  i)recincts  of  habitations,  around  which 
they  are  far  more  common  than  in  the  solitary  woods,  seeking 
their  borders  or  the  thickets  by  the  sides  of  the  road ;  but 
their  favorite  resort  is  the  garden,  where,  from  the  topmost 
bough  of  some  tall  tree  which  commands  the  whole  wide  land- 
scape, the  male  regularly  pours  out  his  lively  chant,  and  con- 
tinues it  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.     Nor  is  this  song 


! 


312 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


confined  to  the  cool  and  animating  dawn  of  morning,  but  it 
is  renewed  and  still  more  vigorous  during  the  noonday  heat 
of  summer.  This  lively  strain  seems  composed  of  a  repeti- 
tion of  short  notes ;  commencing  loud  and  rapid,  and  *hen, 
slowly  falling,  they  descend  almost  to  a  whisi)er,  succeeded  by 
a  silent  interval  of  about  half  a  minute,  when  the  song  is  again 
continued  as  before.  The  most  common  oi  these  vocal  expres- 
sions sounds  like  she  tshe  tshe  —  tsh^  tshee  tslUc  —  tsM  tshe 
tshc.  The  middle  syllables  are  uttered  lispingly,  in  a  very 
peculiar  manner,  and  the  three  last  gradually  fall ;  sometimes 
the  song  is  varied  and  shortened  into  tshca  tshca  tshca  tshrl'h^ 
the  last  sound  being  sometimes  doubled.  This  shorter  song 
is  usually  uttered  at  the  time  that  the  female  is  engaged  in 
the  cares  of  incubation,  or  as  the  brood  already  appear,  and 
when  too  great  a  display  of  music  might  endanger  the  retiring 
security  of  the  family.  From  a  yoi'ng  or  imperfectly  moulted 
male,  on  the  summit  of  a  weeping-willow,  I  heard  the  following 
singularly  lively  syllables,  Ule  ^tle  '//<?  Ui  lee,  repeated  at  short 
intervals.  While  thus  prominently  exposed  to  view,  the  little 
airy  minstrel  is  continually  on  the  watch  against  any  surprise, 
and  if  he  be  steadily  looked  at  or  hearkened  to  with  visible 
attention,  in  the  next  instant  he  is  off  to  seek  out  some  securer 
elevation.  In  the  village  of  Cambridge  I  have  seen  one  of 
these  azure,  almost  celestial  musicians,  regularly  chant  to  the 
inmates  of  a  tall  dwelling-house  from  the  summit  of  the  chim- 
ney or  the  point  of  the  forked  lightning-rod.  I  have  also 
heard  a  Canary,  within  hearing,  repeat  and  imitate  the  slowly 
lisping  trill  of  the  Indigo  Bird,  whose  warble  indeed  often 
greatly  resembles  that  of  this  species.  The  female,  before 
hatching  her  brood,  is  but  seldom  seen,  and  is  then  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  a  common  Sparrow  ;  nor  is  she  ever  to  be 
observed  beyond  the  humble  bushes  and  weeds  in  which  she 
commonly  resides.  " 

The  nest  of  our  bird  is  usually  built  in  a  low  bush  partly  con- 
cealed by  rank  grass  or  grain ;  at  times  in  the  forks  of  a  young 
orchard  tree  lo  or  12  feet  from  the  ground.  I  have  also  seen 
one  suspended  in  a  complicated  manner  in  a  trellised  gra])e- 


INDIGO  BUNTING. 


313 


vine.  If  left  undisturbed,  they  often  build  in  the  same  garden 
or  orchard  for  several  successive  years.  When  in  a  bush,  the 
nest  is  suspended  betwixt  two  twigs,  passing  up  on  either  side. 
Externally  it  is  composed  of  coarse  sedge-grass,  some  withered 
leaves,  and  lined  with  fine  stalks  of  the  same,  and  the  slender 
hair-like  tops  of  the  bent-grass  (^Agrostis),  with  a  very  few 
cow-hairs ;  though  sometimes  they  make  a  substantial  lining  of 
hair.  The  nest  which  I  saw  in  the  vine  was  composed  out- 
wardly of  coarse  strips  of  bass-mat,  weeds,  and  some  strings 
picked  up  in  the  garden,  and  lined  with  horse-hair  and  a  few 
tops  of  bent-grass.  The  young  here  scarcely  leave  the  nest 
before  the  end  of  July  or  the  first  week  in  August,  and  they 
raise  usually  but  a  single  brood  in  the  season.  They  appear 
to  show  great  timidity  about  their  nest,  and  often  readily  for- 
sake it  when  touched,  or  when  an  egg  is  abstracted.  Their 
usual  note  of  alarm  when  themselves  or  their  young  are 
approached  is  a  sharp  fship,  quickly  and  anxiously  repeated, 
resembling  almost  the  striking  of  two  pebbles.  They  will  not 
forsake  their  young,  however  ready  they  may  be  to  relinquish 
their  eggs;  and  they  have  been  known  to  feed  their  brood 
very  faithfully  through  the  bars  of  a  cage  in  which  they  were 
confined. 

This  species  is  a  common  summer  resident  from  South  Carolina 
to  western  Maine  and  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  westward  through 
Ontario  and  Illinois  to  the  Great  Plains.  It  also  occurs  occasion- 
allv  in  eastern  Maine  and  the  Maritime  Provinces. 


Note.  —  One  example  of  the  Varied  Bunting  {Passenna 
versicolor)  has  been  captured  in  southern  Michigan.  Its  usual 
habitat  is  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  Lower  California. 


314  SINGING  BIRDS. 


PAINTED   BUNTING. 

NONPAREIL. 
Passerina  CIRIS. 

Char.  Male:  head  and  neck  purplish  blue  ;  eyelids  red;  back  yellow- 
ish green  ;  rump  purplish  red ;  wings  dusky,  glosse'!  with  green  and  red  ; 
tail  purplish  brown;  below,  vc-milion.  Ff  male :  above,  pale  olive;  be- 
low, dull  buff.     Length  5X  to  5)4  inches. 

xViSf.  In  a  thicket  of  low  bushes ;  compactly  made  of  twigs,  roots, 
shreds  of  bark  ".nd  gruss,  lined  with  fine  gi   ss  or  hcrse-hair,  or  fine  roots. 

E^^^'X's.  4-5;  dul'  white,  or  vvith  blue  tint,  marked  chiefly  around  larger 
end  with  purplish  and  reddish  brown  ;  c.So  X  0.60. 

This  splendid,  gay,  and  do.  lie  bird,  known  to  the  Americans 
as  the  Nonpareil^  and  to  the  French  Louisianians  as  the  Pape, 
inhabits  the  woods  of  the  low  countries  of  the  Southern  States, 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea  and  along  the  borders  of  the  larger 
rivers,  from  North  Carolina  to  Mexico.  It  arrives  from  its 
tropical  quarters  in  I-ouisiana  and  Georgia  from  the  middle 
to  the  2oth  of  April :  but  impatient  of  cold,  retires  to  the 
South  early  in  October,  and  is  supposed  to  winter  about  Vera 
Cniz.  For  the  sake  of  their  song  as  well  as  beauty  of  plum- 
age, these  birds  are  commoiily  domesticated  in  the  houses  of 
the  French  inhabitants  of  New  Orleans  and  its  vicinity ;  and 
some  ha'  '  succeeded  in  raising  then  in  captivity,  where  plenty 
of  room  was  allowed  in  an  aviary.  They  are  fomiliar  also  in 
the  gardens  and  orchards,  where  their  warbling  notes  are  al- 
most peri)etually  heard  throughout  the  summer.  Their  song 
much  resembles  that  of  the  Indigo  Hird,  but  their  voice  is 
more  feeble  ;  d  concise.  Soon  reconciled  to  the  cage,  they 
will  sing  even  a  few  days  after  being  caught.  Their  food  con- 
sists of  rice,  insects,  and  various  kinds  of  seeds ;  they  collect 
also  the  grains  of  the  ripe  figs,  and,  frequenting  gardens,  build 
often  within  a  few  paces  of  the  house,  being  particularly 
attached  to  the  orangeries. 

Their  nests  are  usually  made  in  the  hedges  of  the  orange,  or 
on  the  lower  branches  of  the  same  tree,  likewise  occasionally 
in  a  bramble  or  thorny  bush,     in  the  mildest  climates  in  which 


WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW. 


315 


they  pass  the  summer,  they  raise  two  broods  in  the  season. 
They  are  commonly  caught  in  trap-cages,  to  which  they  are 
sometimes  all'ired  by  a  stuffed  bird,  which  they  descend  to 
attack ;  and  they  have  been  known  to  survive  in  domestica- 
tion for  upwards  of  ten  years. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States, 
and  has  been  taken  north  to  southern  Illinois  and  North  Carolina. 


Note.  —  The  Grassquit  {^Euetheia  bkolor)  and  the  Melo- 
dious Grassquit  {Eneihcia  canora)  —  both  West  India  birds  — 
have  been  taken  in  southern  Florida,  though  they  are  merely 
accidental  wanderers  there. 


WHITE-CROWNED  SPARROW. 

ZONOTRICHIA    LEUCOPHRVS. 

Char.  Upper  parts  brown,  streaked  with  brownish  black,  dull  bay, 
and  pale  ash ;  crown  white,  bordered  by  bands  of  black ;  lines  of  black 
and  white  from  eyes  to  hind  neck;  wings  with  two  white  bars  ;  below,  dark 
ash,  whitening  on  throat  and  belly ;  flanks  shaded  with  brown.  Length 
about  7  inches. 

Nest.  In  an  open  woodland,  on  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush,  — 
usually  concealed  in  grass  at  the  foot  of  a  bush ;  firmly  made  of  dried 
grass  lined  with  fine  grass,  — sometimes  with  deer's  hair  or  feathers,  or 
roots. 

Eggs.  4-6;  greenish  white  or  bluish  white  thickly  spotted  with  red- 
dish brown ;  0.90  X  0.65. 

This  rare  and  handsome  species  is  very  little  known  in  any 
part  of  the  United  States,  a  few  stragglers  only  being  seen 
about  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  again  in  May  or  earlier,  on 
their  way  back  to  their  Northern  breeding-places,  in  the  fur 
countries  and  round  Hudson's  liay,  which  they  visit  from  the 
South  in  May,  and  construct  their  nests  in  June  in  the  vicinity 
of  Albany  Fort  and  Severn  River.  Those  are  fixed  on  the 
ground,  or  near  it,  in  the  shelter  of  the  willow-trees  which 
they  glean,  probably  with  many  other  birds,  for  the  insects 
which  frequent  them. 


3i6 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


At  this  season  the  male  sings  in  a  loud,  clear,  musical,  but 
rather  plaintive  tone,  the  song  consisting  of  six  or  seven  notes ; 
these  he  repeats  at  short  intervals  during  the  whole  day.  On 
the  13th  of  April,  1835,  I  saw  flocks  of  this  species  among 
the  thickets  in  the  vicinity  of  Santa  Barbara,  Upper  California. 
They  sung  with  a  feeble,  ijuaint  note,  to  me  unlike  that  of  any 
other  species,  and  almost  similar  to  some  of  the  notes  of  the 
Chickadee.  As  they  depart  from  Hudson  Bay  in  Sejitember. 
it  is  probable  that  they  principally  winter  in  the  Canadian 
provinces,  otherwise,  as  passengers  farther  south,  they  would 
be  seen  more  abundantly  in  the  United  States  than  they  are. 
Indeed,  as  they  approach  this  part  of  New  England  only  in 
small  desultory  parties  in  the  winter,  as  in  November  and 
December,  it  is  evident  that  they  only  migrate  a  short  distance 
in  quest  of  food,  ami  return  to  the  North  at  the  approach  of 
fine  weather.  While  here  they  appear  silent  and  solitary,  and 
are  not  difficult  to  ai)proach.  Their  food,  as  usual,  is  seeds  of 
grasses,  insects,  and  their  larvre. 

This  species  is  not  so  rare  in  our  day  as  Nuttall  evidently  con- 
sidered it,  for  it  is  now  more  or  less  abundant  throughout  this 
Eastern  Province,  thoujfli  likely  to  appear  in  irregular  numbers  at 
any  <;iven  locality.  It  breeds  in  northern  Maine  and  New  Bruns- 
wick, and  north  to  sub-arctic  regions.  Nests  have  been  found  also 
in  Vermont  and  New  York.  The  birds  are  met  with  in  winter  from 
southern  New  England  southward. 


il    I 


LARK   SPARROW. 

LARK   FINCH. 
ChONDESTES   GRAMiMACUS. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  olive ;  the  back  brown,  with  fine  streaks  of 
black;  tail  black,  —  excepting  central  feathers,  —  tipped  with  white,  outer 
web  of  outer  pair  entirely  white ;  crown  chestnut,  with  median  line  uf 
dull  white;  line  over  the  eye  dull  white;  white  crescent  under  the  eyes 
bordered  by  black,  and  behind  by  chestnut ;  below  white  tinged  with 
brown ;  breast  with  patch  of  black.     Length  6}i  to  7  inches. 

A^esi.  Uf  illy  amid  a  tuft  of  grass,  but  sometimes  in  a  tree  or  bush; 
composed  r     ;rass  and  vegetable  fibre. 

^?.'.'-''-  j  (usually  4) ;  white  or  with  blue  or  buff  tint,  marked  with 
spots  and  hnes  of  dark  brown  or  black  ;  0.85  X  0.65. 

For  this  species  we  are  again  indebted  to  Mr.  Say,  who  ob- 
served it  in  abundance  near  the  Council  BhifTs  and  the  neigh- 
boring country  of  the  Missouri  in  the  spring,  as  well  as  in  the 
month  of  June.  It  appears  to  be  wholly  confined  to  the  west 
side  of  the  Mississippi,  and  probably  extends  into  Mexico. 
These  birds  frequent  the  prairie  grounds,  and  seldom  if  ever 
alight  on  trees ;  they  sing  sweetly,  and,  like  the  Larks,  have 
the  habit  of  continuing  their  notes  while  on  the  wing. 

Mr.  Townsend  observes  :  "  This  species  inhabits  several  hun- 
dred miles  of  the  Platte  plains  in  great  numbers,  as  well  as  the 
banks  of  the  Columbia  River.  It  generally  affects  the  low 
bushes  of  wormwood  {A r/emist'a),  from  the  summit  ot  which 


!l 


I 

<  II 

I 
I 
I 


\'i\ 


J 


3i8 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


it  pours  forth  a  variety  of  pretty  rotes."  At  the  commence- 
meni.  of  the  pairir>.j  seA?»>a  the  ixiales  are  very  pugnacious, 
fighting  often  en  M'ii  ,3.  and  the  conquering  rival,  repairing  to 
the  nearest  buih.  uuies  his  Hvely  pipe  in  token  of  success. 

The  Lark  Finch  it,  common  along  the  Mississippi  valley  north  to 
Iowa  and  southeia  Michigan.  It  has  been  taken  occasionally  in 
Manitoba  and  in  Ontario,  and  a  few  examples  have  appeared  in 
New  England.  It  is  said  to  be  the  finest  songtier  of  the  North 
American  Sparrows. 


WHITE-THROATED   SPARROW. 

PEABODV    BIRD.     OLD-TOM-FP:.\Bl.     /. 
ZONUTRICHLV    ALBICOI.I.IS. 

Char.  Back  straked,  reddish  brown ,  black  and  dull  buff;  sides  of 
head,  breast,  and  rump  ashy;  crown  with  median  stripe  of  white  bordered 
by  stripes  of  black;  stripes  of  yellow  from  bill  to  eyes;  stri;)es  of  white 
over  eyes ;  stripes  of  black  through  eyes ;  throat  white,  bordered  by 
black;  belly  white,  the  sides  shaded  with  brown;  wings  with  two  white 
bars.     Length  6/4  to  7  inches. 

At'j/.  In  an  old  meadow  or  open  woodland,  or  on  the  edge  of  a  grove  ; 
placed  on  the  ground  upon  a  cushion  of  moss;  composed  of  grass,  ste  v, 
ro<jts,  etc.;  lined  with  fine  grass  or  roots, — sometimes  with  hair  o. 
feathers. 

/ri,'7,''J.  4-5 ;  pale  greenish  blue,  thickly  niarked  with  several  shades  of 
reddish  brown  ;  0.85  X  0.60. 

These  large  and  handsome  Sparrows  are  s^ecn  in  this  v,,^^.  of 
Massachusetts  only  as  transient  visitors  at  thf  appro.  '  of 
winter,  or  in  spring  about  the  first  week  in  May.  In  the 
Middle  and  Southern  States  they  pass  the  inclement  season, 
and  appear  there  as  a  numerous  species.  A  flock  has  been 
observed  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  month  of  January. 
In  their  hibernal  resorts  they  are  seen  in  bands,  and  show  a 
predilection  for  thickets,  swamps,  small  streams,  and  the  bor- 
ders of  ponds,  where,  among  the  tall  and  bleaching  weeds, 
they  continue  '  •oUect  the  seeds,  and  probably  insect  larvae, 
which  constitute  d  oir  usual  frre.  While  here  they  keep  much 
on  the  ground,  and  seek  out  cool  and  shady  situations,  scratch- 


W H  *  rZ-TH ROATED   SPARROW. 


319 


ing  ip  the  fallen  Ivrvca  in  quest  of  worms  and  other  insects, 
and  aio  at  this  time  often  very  unsuspicious,  lUovving  a  near 
approach  vvithout  betraying  any  alarm ,  hut  when  in  large 
iiorko,  they  move  about  in  timorous  haste  as  soon  as  ap- 
proached. About  the  icth  of  April  they  leave  the  Middle 
States,  and  retire  to  the  high  northern  latitudes  to  breed,  hav- 
ing been  seen  in  Labrador,  Newfoundland,  and  the  fur  coun- 
tries up  to  the  66th  parallel  in  summer.  At  the  period  of 
breetlng  the  male  sings  with  considerable  energy  and  melody 
already  in  the  early  spring ;  also  before  their  departure  to  the 
North,  on  fine  mornings,  they  are  heard  to  whisper  forth  a  few 
sweet  and  clear  notes,  as  in  a  revery  of  the  approaching  hap- 
piness of  their  more  lively  and  interesting  condition. 

This  Sparrow  —  kno.vn  to  the  country  people  of  the  East  as  the 
"  Peabody  IJird  "  —  breeds  abundantly  in  the  northern  portions  of 
New  York  and  New  England  as  well  as  in  the  Maritime  Provinces ; 
and  at  the  west  in  northern  Michigan  and  Manitoba.  Two  nests 
Slave  been  discovered  In  Massachusetts.  The  bird  winters  from 
southern  New  England  southward. 

The  song,  which  is  loud  and  sweet,  is  familiar  in  the  district 
where  the  birds  build,  for  they  sing  all  day  long,  and  are  often 
heard  during  the  night.  It  has  been  interpreted ped-/ftid-pfdlfoefy- 
pcdbody-pedbody ;  hence  the  name. 


I     '    it 


VESPER   SPARROW. 

GRASS   FINCH.     BAV-WINGED    BUNTING. 
POOC^TES    OKAMINEUS. 

Char.  Above,  yellowish  brown,  streaked  with  darker  ;  line  over  and 
around  eyes,  whit  • ;  shoulder  cbestniit  or  bay  ;  two  while  bars  on  wing; 
two  outer  tail-feathers  partly  white  ;  below,  wliitc  with  buffy  tinge;  breast 
and  sides  streaked  with  brown.     Let.gth  about  6'4  inches. 

AVjA  In  a  field,  old  ineadow,  on^n  pasture,  or  roadside,  on  the  ground, 
—  usually  hidden  by  tuft  of  grass  or  unc'er  a  low  bush;  composed  of  grass 
and  roots,  and  lined  with  fine  grass,  sonic. imes  with  hair. 

/:Xf;'.f.  4-6;  gr.-\yish  white,  sometimes  with  ^reen  or  pink  tint,  lickly 
marked  with  several  shades  of  brown;  .)  So  X  c.6o. 

This  rl^in-looking  Finch  chiefly  frequtiits  dry  pastures  and 
meadows,  and  is  often  seen  perched  on  the  fences  and  in 
orchard  trees  ;  it  also  often  approaches  the  pubhc  roads  and 
gathers  its  subsistence  tamely  ^rom  various  sources.  It  is 
abundant  in  all  the  States  east  of  the  Alleghanics,  where  many 
jxass  the  whole  year  ;  yet  great  ntnnbers  also  winter  in  the  south- 
ern parts  of  the  Unioi,  proceeding  as  far  as  the  maritime 
districts  of  Cleorgia  and  Fkridi.  From  the  beginning  of 
April  to  the  beginning  of  JurK,  the  "r.a'es  sing  with  a  clear  and 
agreeable  note,  scarcely  inferior  t>;  that  of  the  Canary,  though 
less  loud  and  varied.  On  their  fire;  o':;val,  as  with  the  Song 
Sparrow,  their  notes  are  often  giv  en  ill  an  under-tone  of  con- 
siderable sweetness.  Their  ;-.ong  begins  at  early  dawn,  and  is 
again  peculiarly  frecpient    ifter  sun.  ?t  until  dark,  when,  fnmi 


WlMW 


aSMMM 


VESPER   SPARROW. 


321 


the  fence  of  some  elevated  pasture-field,  in  the  cool  of  the 
summer  evening,  when  other  songsters  have  retired  to  rest,  the 
Grass  Sparrow,  more  than  usually  wakeful,  after  a  silence  which 
has  perhaps  continued  nearly  through  the  warmer  part  of  the 
day,  pipes  forth  his  clear  and  slender,  though  now  almost  mo- 
notonous song,  near  to  the  favorite  spot  where  his  mate  hatches 
or  fosters  her  tender  brood  ;  and  from  all  the  neighboring 
meadows,  at  this  silent  hour,  as  the  last  rays  of  the  sun  are  re- 
flected from  the  dusky  horizon,  we  hear  a  constant  repetition 
of  an  echoing  and  shrill  tsh  'tsh  Uslie  k  tslivte  tshcte,  with  warb- 
ling tones  blended  and  varied,  at  the  l)cgi'ming  and  close  of 
this  simple,  rather  pensive,  but  agreeable  ditty.  They  are 
n-iore  common  in  fields  than  thickets,  and  run  along  the  ground 
in  the  manner  of  the  Lark.  They  likewise  frtcjuent  ploughing 
fields,  searching  on  the  ground  for  insects,  and  are  very  fond 
of  dusting  themselves  and  basking  in  vhy  places. 

I.eing  nearly  sedentary,  they  raise  probably  several  broods 
in  the  season.  Sometimes  when  startetl  from  the  nest,  the 
female  simulates  lameness  with  remarkable  dexterity,  so  as 
very  readily  to  draw  off  the  attention  of  her  enemies  or  in- 
truders. The  young  are  easily  raised  from  the  nest,  and 
become  very  tame,  clean,  and  domestic,  but  reailily  ([uarrel 
with  each  other. 

The  "  Hay-winged  Hunting  "  ( i"  earlier  writers  was  named  '*  \'cs- 
per  Sparrow  "  by  Wilson  Flagjj;,  from  its  habit  of  singin;;  during 
the  early  evening.  It  breeds  from  \'ir<.cinia  and  Kentucky  to  Mani- 
toba and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  is  one  of  the  most  abundant 
Sparrows  in  New  England  and  Ontario. 


1^ 


i  W 


\\ 


1 1, 


VOL.    I.  —    21 


'' 


f 


SONG   SPARROW. 

Melosi'iza  fasciata. 

Char.  Back  streaked  with  iMuck,  bay,  and  ash;  crown  bay,  streaked 
with  black  and  with  two  stripes  oJ  ash;  wings  grayisii  brown  edged  with 
dull  rufous  ,  tail  grayish  brown,  with  dark  wavy  cross-bars,  below,  white  ; 
breast,  sides  of  throat,  and  sides  of  body  spotted  with  brown,  the  spots 
forming  a  "  patch  "  on  the  breast.     Length  6  to  W/z  inciies. 

Xest.  In  a  field  or  open  pasture,  amid  a  tuft  of  Rrass  or  under  a  low 
bush,  sometimes  fastened  to  bush  or  vine,  occasionally  placed  in  a  cavity 
in  a  tree  ;  composed  of  twigs,  grass,  roots,  and  leaves,  lined  with  grass 
and  roots,  or  hair. 

Eggs.  3-7  (usually  4  or  5)  ;  dull  white  or  with  tint  f)f  green,  blue,  or 
pink,  thickly  marked  with  several  shades  of  brown  occasionally  un- 
spotted ;  0.80  X  o  60. 

This  familiar  and  almost  domestic  bird  is  one  of  the  most 
common  and  numerous  Sparrows  in  the  United  States  ;  it  is 
also,  with  the  IJluebird,  which  it  seems  to  accompany,  one 
of  the    two    earliest,   sweetest,  and    most  enduring  warblers. 


\\ 


SONG   SPARROW. 


323 


Though  many  pass  on  to  the  Southern  States  at  the  commence- 
ment of  winter,  yet  a  few  seem  to  brave  the  colds  of  New 
England  as  long  as  the  snowy  waste  docs  not  conceal  their 
last  resource  of  nutriment,  When  the  inundating  storm  at 
length  arrives,  they  no  longer,  in  the  sheltering  swamps  and 
borders  of  bushy  streams,  spend  their  time  in  gleaning  an  in- 
sufficient subsistence,  but  in  the  month  of  November  begin  to 
retire  to  the  warmer  States ;  and  here,  on  fine  days,  even  in 
January,  whisper  forth  their  usual  strains.  As  early  as  the  4th 
of  March,  the  weather  being  mild,  the  Song  Sparrow  and  the 
liluebird  here  jointly  arrive,  and  cheer  the  yet  dreary  face  of 
Nature  with  their  familiar  songs.  The  latter  flits  restlessly 
through  the  orchard  or  neighboring  fields ;  the  Sparrow,  more 
social,  frequents  the  garden,  barn-yard,  or  road-side  in  quest 
of  support,  and  from  the  top  of  some  humble  bush,  stake,  or 
taller  bough  tunes  forth  his  cheering  lay,  in  frequent  repetitions, 
for  half  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time.  These  notes  have  some 
resemblance  to  parts  of  the  Canary's  song,  and  are  almost 
uninterruptedly  and  daily  delivered,  from  his  coming  to  the 
commencement  of  winter.  When  the  birds  first  arrive,  while 
the  weather  is  yet  doubtful  and  unsettled,  the  strain  appears 
contemplative,  and  is  often  delivered  in  a  peculiarly  low  and 
tender  whisper,  which,  when  hearkened  to  for  some  time,  will 
be  found  more  than  usually  melodious,  seeming  as  a  sort  of 
revery,  or  innate  hope  of  improving  seasons,  which  are  recalled 
with  a  grateful,  calm,  antl  tender  delight.  At  the  ai)proach  of 
winter,  this  vocal  thrill,  sounding  like  an  Orphean  farewell  to 
the  scene  and  season,  is  still  more  exquisite,  and  softened  by 
the  sadness  which  seems  to  breathe  almost  with  sentiment, 
from  the  decaying  and  now  silent  face  of  Nature.  Our  song- 
ster, never  remarkable  for  sprightliness,  as  the  spring  advances 
delivers  his  lay  louder  and  more  earnestly.  He  usually  begins 
with  a  A/r'  fsh'  tslii'  ft'  tshck  tshcte,  and  blends  in  a  good  deal  of 
(]uivering  notes.  Individuals  also  excel,  and  vary  their  song  from 
time  U)  time  with  very  agreeable  effect ;  and  it  is  only  because 
our  familiar  vocalist  is  so  constantly  heard  and  seen  that  so  little 
value  is  set  upon  his  agreeable,  cheerful,  and  faithful  perform- 


324 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


!      .1 


hi  i 


ance.  When  not  attached  to  the  garden,  our  Sparrow  seems 
fond  of  freijuenting  low  bushy  meadows,  streams,  swamps,  and 
watery  situations,  which  afford  him  reaily  shelter,  and  his  usual 
food  of  worms,  insects,  larvre,  and  seeds.  Such  situations  are 
also  their  fovorite  resorts  when,  in  gregarious  and  miscellaneous 
flocks  with  other  congeneric  kinds,  they  are  seen  to  crowd  the 
sheltered  marshes  of  the  Southern  States.  They  are  also  com- 
monly seen  nimbly  running  along  the  ground,  and  gliding 
through  low  thickets  in  (piest  of  their  insect  fare ;  and  in  fine 
weather  they  dust  themselves,  and  bask  in  the  sun.  They  often 
likewise  frecjuent  the  water,  being  fond  of  washing ;  and  some- 
times are  seen  to  swim  across  small  streams,  particularly  when 
disabled  from  flying  by  a  gunshot  wound. 

The  nest  is  usually  formed  of  a  considerable  portion  of  fine 
dry  grass  neatly  put  together,  and  mostly  lined  with  horse-hair. 
These  birds  are  very  prolific,  raising  as  many  as  three  broods 
in  a  season,  the  yoimg  being  occasionally  hatched,  in  the  Mid- 
dle States,  from  the  close  of  April  to  the  end  of  August.  'I'hey 
are  very  solicitous  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  keeping  up  at 
this  time  often  a  tiresome  chirping  ;  and  on  the  destruction  of 
the  female  and  most  of  her  young,  I  have  known  the  remain- 
ing male,  with  unceasing  and  anxious  attention,  raise  a  solitary 
survivor  of  his  ruined  family  with  the  most  devoted  affection. 
As  they  keep  the  young  and  their  habitation  so  very  clean,  and 
are  so  prolific,  it  is  a  matter  of  sur])rise  that  they  do  not  re- 
occupy  the  premises ;  instances  are,  however,  not  wanting  in 
which  they  have  been  known  to  raise  two  broods  in  the  same 
nest.  Both  parents  join  in  the  duty  of  incubation,  and  alter- 
nately feed  each  other  while  so  engaged. 

This  species  nests  from  South  Carolina  to  Lake  Mistassini,  and 
from  central  Ohio  and  northern  Illinois  to  Lake  Winnipeg.  It 
arrives  at  St.  John,  N.  B.,  during  the  second  week  in  April  in  im- 
mense flocks,  and  is  usually  accompanied  by  .similar  flocks  of 
Robins  and  Juncos.  Occasionally  a  few  winter  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces  and  in  Quebec,  as  well  as  in  New  England. 


I 


SAVANNA   SPARROW. 


325 


SAVANNA   SPARROW.  ,     //  ,^  -^^^^^  ^  ^  / 

GROUND   SPARROW. 
Am.modra.mus  SANDWICHENSIS  SAVAXNA. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  grayish  brown,  black,  rufous,  and  gray; 
line  over  the  eyes  and  edges  of  wings  yi  How  ;  crown  with  median  stripe 
of  yellowish  wiiite  ;  line  from  lower  nandible  yellowish  white  bordered 
by  brown  ;  below,  white  tinged  with  butf,  breast  and  sides  streaked  with 
brown  and  black.     Length  5>^  niches. 

A^est.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  along  a  river  bank,  sometimes  in  a  dry 
inland  meadow,  conceals  by  tall  grass  or  tuft  of  weeds  ;  composed  of 
grass,  sometimes  mixed  with  fine  roots,  and  occasionally  lined  with 
horse-hair. 

Ej^s^s.  3-6 ;  variable  in  shape,  size,  and  markings,  usually  dull  white 
or  with  green  tint,  thickly  spotted  with  dark  brown,  rich  brown,  and 
lilac;  070  X  0.55 

This  Sparrow,  allied  to  the  preceding,  but  far  less  familiar,  is 
commonly  seen  in  this  part  of  New  England  from  A])ril  to 
October,  migrating  towards  the  South  in  severe  weather,  though 
many  pass  the  whole  winter  in  the  Middle  States  In  Georgia 
and  West  Florida  these  birds  are  rather  numerous  in  the  cold 
season,  migrating  in  quest  of  food  probably  from  the  West ; 
and  the  whole  species  generally  show  a  predilection  for  the 
warm  and  sheltered  vicinage  of  the  sea,  where  the  seeds  and 
insects  they  feed  on  are  most  abundant.  On  their  first  arrival 
in  Massachusetts  they  frequent  the  sandy  beaches  and  shores 
of  the  bays  in  quest  of  Cicindche  and  other  coleopterous 
insects  which  frequent  such  situations ;  and  they  ar.;  at  this 
time  exceedingly  fat,  though  their  moult  is  not  yet  completed. 
In  summer  this  shy  and  timid  species  lives  wholly  in  pastures 
or  grass  fields,  and  often  descends  to  the  ground  in  quest  of 
food.  Its  nest,  also  laid  in  the  grass  and  made  of  the  dry 
blades  of  the  same,  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Song  Sparrow,  is 
usually  built  about  the  close  of  April. 

In  the  month  of  March,  in  Georgia,  I  observed  these  Spar- 
rows in  the  open  grassy  pine  woods  on  the  margins  of  small 
swamps  or  "  galls."  At  times  they  utter  a  note  almost  exactly 
similar  to  the  chirpings  of  a  cricket,  so  that  it  might  be  easily 
mistaken  for  that  insect.      At  other  times  they  utter  a  few 


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SINGING  BIRDS. 


pleasant  notes  somewhat  similar  to  the  song  of  the  Song  Spar- 
row, but  sufficiently  distinct. 

The  Savaniia  Sparrow  breeds  more  abundantly  along  the  coast 
of  Massachusetts  than  in  the  interior,  and  perhaps  this  may  apply 
to  all  localities  ;  but  the  opinion  expressed  by  many  writers  that  it 
is  almost  exclusively  a  bird  of  the  sea-shore — of  the  salt-marshes 
—  is  far  from  correct.  I  traced  it  up  the  valley  of  the  St.  John  as  far 
as  there  were  cleared  fields  or  marshy  meadows,  and  in  no  locality 
was  it  more  abundant  than  at  Fort  Kent,  — the  most  northern  point 
of  Maine.     It  occurs  throughout  the  southern  portions  of  Canada. 

These  birds  are  rarely  seen  off  the  ground ;  an  occasional  perch 
on  a  stone  heap  or  a  fence  being  the  only  deviation  from  tnis  rule. 


IPSWICH    SPARROW. 
Ammodramus  princeps. 

Char.  General  appearance  of  a  large  pale  Savanna  Sparrow.  Above, 
grayish  brown,  each  feather  streaked  with  black  and  rufous  ;  crown  stripe 
dull  buff  or  bufify  white  ;  stripe  over  eyes  similar  but  paler  ;  wings  black- 
ish brown,  edged  with  rufous ;  tail  blackish  brown  tipped  with  white ; 
beneath,  dull  white  tinged  with  buff ;  chest  and  sides  streak(.d  with 
brown.     Length  6  to  6^  inches. 

Nest  and  Eggs.     Unknown. 

This  interesting  bird  was  first  described  by  Mr.  C.  J.  Maynard 
from  a  specimen  taken  by  him  at  Ipswich,  Tlass.,  in  1868.  For 
two  years  the  type  remained  unique,  and  for  several  years  later  the 
species  was  supposed  to  be  rare.  It  has  since  been  found  all  along 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  Georgia  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  It 
usually  frequents  the  sea-shore  or  salt-meadows  near  by,  though  Mr. 
N.  C.  Brown  I'eports  that  he  has  seen  it  at  Lake  U'  ibagog,  in  the 
interior  of  Maine.  I  inet  with  it  in  New  Brunswick  only  for  a  few 
days  during  the  early  spring  ;  its  breeding  place  : ;  farther  north. 
When  feeding  on  the  sandy  shore  in  company  with  other  Sparrows 
(the  snow  still  covered  the  fields),  it  was  not  difficult  to  distinguish 
the  Ipswich  from  their  congeners,  but  it  is  difficult  to  define  the 
distinguishing  characteristics. 

A  nest  and  eggs  supposed  to  be  of  this  species  are  in  the  National 
Museum  at  Washington.  They  were  taken  on  Sable  Island,  off 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia;  but  the  identification  is  too  doubtful  to 
permit  of  their  being  accepter  witlio  it  question.  The  nest  and 
eggs  are  described  as  similar  to  those  of  the  Savanna  Sparrow, 
the  eggs  being  somewhat  larger. 


BACHMAN'S  SPARROW. 

SUMMER   FINCH. 
PEUCiEA   .^STIVALIS   BACHMANII. 

Char.  Above,  rufous  streaked  with  black  and  ash;  lines  over  the 
eyes  ash ;  edge  of  wing  yellow  ;  below,  buff,  sides  shaded  with  ash,  breast 
with  brown.    Lengt^  ches. 

Nest.  In  open  grassy  woodland,  half-cleared  field,  or  old  meadow; 
placed  on  the  ground  ;  made  of  dry  grass  or  mixed  with  roots ;  sometimes 
the  top  is  roofed,  the  entrance  at  the  side. 

Egg^-    4-5  J  white  ;  0.7s  X  0.60. 

This  interesting  species  was  first  made  known  to  Audubon 
by  Dr.  Bachman,  who  found  it  near  the  Edisto  River,  and 
afterwards  breeding  in  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South  Caro- 
lina, in  the  pine  barrens.  The  discoverer  remarks  of  this 
bird :  "  When  I  first  heard  its  notes  they  so  nearly  resembled 
those  of  the  Towee  Bunting  that  I  took  it  to  be  that  bird.  As 
soon  as  it  is  seen  in  the  tall  pine-trees  where  it  usually  sits  to 
warble  out  its  melodious  notes,  it  darts  down  and  conceals 
itself  in  the  rank  grass,  through  which  it  runs  ofif  like  a  mouse, 
and  is  flushed  with  difficulty."  It  is  believed  to  breed  on  the 
ground.  It  is  said  to  be  the  finest  songster  of  the  Sparrow 
family  in  the  United  States.  Its  notes  are  loud  for  the  size  of 
the  bird,  and  heard  nearly  alone  in  the  region  it  frequents. 
About  the  month  of  November  it  proceeds  to  migrate  farther 
south,  though  a  few  stragglers  still  remain  throughout  the 
winter.  According  to  Latham,  its  nest  is  usually  on  the  ground 
among  the  grass,  under  small  bushes ;  it  is  composed  of  dry 


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328 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


grass  for  the  most  part,  and  the  eggs  are  dusky  white.  He 
also  adds  that  these  birds  inhabit  Georgia  the  whole  year, 
frequenting  fences,  brushwood,  and  thickets. 

Some  years  ago  in  Georgia  in  the  month  of  March  I  ob- 
served these  Sparrows  in  the  open  grassy  pine  woods,  on  the 
margins  of  small  swamps  or  galls.  On  being  suddenly  sur- 
prised, they  often  flew  off  a  little  distance,  and  then,  if  followed, 
descended  to  the  ground,  and  ran  and  hid  closely  in  the  tall 
tufts  of  grass. 

Their  notes  at  this  time  were  very  long,  piping,  and  ele- 
vated, and  resembling  often  tshe  tship  tship  tship  tship  tship 
tship,  then  tshe  cJC  tsh^  tsJC  ts'h  ts'h.  Some  of  these  note^i  were 
as  fine  and  lively  as  those  of  the  Canary,  —  loud,  echoing,  and 
cheerful. 

The  food  of  this  species  consists  of  grass  seeds,  coleoptera, 
and  a  variety  of  small  berries  as  they  come  in  season.  The 
sexes  are  nearly  alike  in  plumage. 

This  species  occurs  in  the  Gulf  States  and  north  to  South  Caro- 
lina and  southern  Illinois,  but  the  vicinity  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  is 
the  only  locality  in  which  it  has  been  found  in  ah'indance.  Very 
little  is  known  of  its  habits  or  of  its  distribution. 


Note.  —The  type  of  this  species  is  larger  and  darker  than 
bachmanii.  It  is  restricted  to  southern  Georgia  and  Florida,  and 
has  been  named  the  Pine  Woods  Sparrow  {^Peuccea  cestivalis). 


LINCOLN'S   SPARROW. 

LINCOLN'S   FINCH. 
Melospiza  LINCOLNI. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  brown,  gray,  and  olack;  below,  white  ; 
band  across  the  breast  and  on  sides  brownish  yellow.  Length  about 
5/4  inches. 

A^est.  On  the  ground,  amid  low  bushes,  along  the  skirts  of  marshy 
meadow,  or  on  a  dry  grassy  hillock  in  an  open  woodland ;  composed  of 
grass. 

Egi;s.  4-5 ;  pale  green  or  bu^sh,  —  sometimes  almost  white,  —  thickly 
spotted  and  blotched  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 


GRASSHOPPER   SPARROW. 


329 


The  habits  of  this  boreal  species,  discovered  by  Audubon  in 
Labrador,  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Song  Sparrow.  Like 
it,  mounted  on  the  topmost  twig  of  some  tree  or  tall  shrub,  it 
chants  for  hours  together ;  or,  diving  into  the  thicket,  it  hops 
from  branch  to  branch  until  it  reaches  the  ground  in  quest  of 
its  usual  fare  of  insects  and  berries.  It  moves  off  swiftly  when 
watched,  and  if  forced  to  take  wing  flies  low  and  with  rapidity 
to  some  considerable  distance.  It  is  met  with  usually  near 
streams,  in  the  sheltered  valleys  of  that  cold  and  desolate 
region.  By  the  4th  of  July  the  young  had  left  the  nest,  and  in 
August  they  had  begun  their  migrations  to  the  South.  Speci- 
mens have  been  obtained  by  Mr.  W.  Cooper  near  New  York 
city. 

Lincoln's  Finch  is  now  considered  less  "  boreal  "  in  its  distribu- 
tion than  Nuttall  and  his  contemporaries  supposed,  for  though  it 
has  been  found  in  Labrador  and  in  the  high  Arctic  regions  of  the 
West,  yet  nests  have  been  discovered  in  Nova  Scotia,  northern 
New  York,  and  Wisconsin,  as  well  as  on  the  higher  mountains  of 
the  West  down  nearly  to  the  Mexican  border.  It  is  a  rare  bird 
near  the  Atlantic,  but  is  abundant  along  the  Mississippi  valley. 


GRASSHOPPER  SPARROW. 

yellow  winged  sparrow.   yellow-winged  bunting. 

Ammodramus  savannarum  passerinus. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  bay,  black,  buff,  and  ash  ;  crown  black- 
ish, with  median  line  of  buff ;  lines  over  the  eye  buff,  bend  of  wing  bright 
yellow;  below,  buff,  shading  to  white  on  the  belly.  Length  about  5 
inches. 

Nest.  In  a  field,  concealed  by  long  grass ;  composed  of  grass,  lined 
with  horse-hair. 

^g'<^'    4-5  ;  white,  spotted  with  rich  brown  and  lilac ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  small  Sparrow  is  a  summer  resident  in  the  United 
States,  in  the  distant  territory  of  the  Oregon,  and  is  likewise, 
according  to  Sloane,  a  common  species  in  the  savannas  or 
open  glades  of  the  island  of  Jamaica.  From  what  little  is 
known  of  it  as  a  bird  of  the  United  States,  it   appears   to 


1^ 


Fr 


330 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


remain  in  the  sheltered  plains  of  the  sea-coast  of  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  until  the  very  commencement  of  winter.  It  is 
also  observed  in  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania ;  and  about  the 
middle  of  May,  or  later,  they  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  gar- 
dens in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  on  their  way  apparently  to  some 
other  breeding-station.  On  these  occasions  they  perch  in 
sheltered  trees  in  pairs,  and  sing  in  an  agreeable  voice  some- 
what like  that  of  the  Purple  Finch,  though  less  vigorously.  In 
the  West  Indies  they  live  much  on  the  ground,  and  run  like 
Larks,  flying  low  when  flushed,  and  soon  alighting.  Their  nest 
is  likewise  fixed  on  the  ground,  among  the  grass,  where  they 
collect  their  usual  fare  of  seeds  and  insects. 

The  majority  of  local  students  of  bird  life  to-day  consider  this 
^jecies  more  or  less  common  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
and  it  is  known  to  occur  in  parts  of  the  more  northern  New  Eng- 
land States,  and  in  New  York,  Ohio,  Ontario,  and  Michigan.  One 
example  has  been  taken  in  New  Brunswick.  Its  supposed  rarity 
by  earlier  observers  was  probably  due  to  its  usual  concealment 
amid  the  tall  grass  and  to  its  lack  of  an  attractive  song ;  for  in  sp''t'; 
of  Nuttall's  assurance  to  the  contrary,  modern  observers  have  a- 
dorsed  the  opinion  expressed  by  one  of  their  leaders  that  "  its  best 
vocalization  is  scarcely  stronger  or  more  musical  than  the  stridula- 
tion  of  a  grasshopper." 


ili 


HENSLOW'S  SPARROW. 

HENSLOW'S   BU1*^TING. 
Ammodramus  HENSLOWIL 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  olive  brown,  bay,  and  gray ;  crown  olive 
gray,  with  two  blackish  stripes ;  edge  of  wing  yellow ;  below,  buff,  paler 
on  throat  and  belly ;  sides  of  throat  and  sides  of  body  streaked  with 
black.     Length  about  5  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  field,  concealed  amid  long  grass ;  made  of  grass  with  a 
lining  of  hair. 

i?,f;^j.  4-5;  dull  white,  sometimes  tinged  with  green,  spotted  with 
brown  and  lilac  ;  0.75  X  0.60. 

This  species,  so  much  allied  to  the  Yellow-winged  Finch 
discovered  by  Audubon,  is  known  to  breed  in  New  Jersey. 


LE  CONTE'S  SPARROW. 


33» 


As  a  winter  bird  of  passage  it  is  common  in  South  Carolina, 
and  equally  abundant  in  the  pine  forests  of  Florida,  seeking 
out  by  choice  the  light  sandy  soils  overgrown  with  pines, 
though  it  keeps  on  the  ground  wholly,  running  with  celerity, 
and  threading  its  way  through  the  grass  with  the  nimbleness 
of  a  mouse. 

Henslow's  Sparrow  breeds  from  southern  New  England  to  South 
Carolina,  and  from  Ontario  and  Illinois  southward.  One  nest  has 
been  discovered  in  New  Hampshire.  It  is  more  abundant  to  the 
westward  than  near  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 


LE   CONTE'S   SPARROW. 

LE  CONTE'S   BUNTING. 
Ammodramus  LECONTEII. 

Char.  General  color  reddish  brown,  streaked  with  brownish  black, 
the  feathers  margined  with  pale  buff ;  crown  with  two  black  stripes  sepa- 
rated by  a  narrow  stripe  of  pale  huffish  gray ;  cheeks  and  stripes  over  the 
eyes  buff ;  hind  neck  rufous ;  under  parts  buff,  paler  on  the  belly  ;  no 
streaks  on  the  breast.  Bill  small  and  slender ;  tail-feathers  narrow, 
tapering,  and  extremely  pointed.     Length  about  5  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  marsh  or  wet  meadow,  raised  from  the  grourjl  by  tangled 
grass ;  made  of  fine  grass. 

Eggs.  3-  ? ;  delicate  pink,  with  a  few  spots  of  brownish  and  of  black 
towards  the  larger  end;  0.75  X  0.50. 

This  interesting  bird  was  first  described  by  Audubon  in  the  1843 
edition  of  his  work,  —  issued  after  Nuttall  had  written.  Audubon 
secured  but  one  specimen,  and  only  one  other  was  discovered  until 
1873,  when  Dr.  Coues  took  several  examples  on  the  Dakota  plains. 
Since  then  the  species  has  been  found  by  a  number  of  naturalists, 
and  it  is  now  known  to  breed  on  the  plains  of  Dakota,  Minnesota, 
and  Manitoba,  migrating  in  the  autumn  through  Illinois,  Iowa, 
Kansas,  etc.,  to  South  Carolina  and  Florida.  It  is  by  no  means 
a  rare  bird,  —  Ridgeway  thinks  it  abundant  in  Illinois,  and  Thomp- 
son reports  it  common  in  Manitoba ;  but,  as  Dr.  Coues  suggests,  its 
retiring  habits  and  the  nature  of  its  resorts  have  doubtless  caused 
it  to  be  overlooked. 

The  birds  resemble  Henslow's  Sparrow,  and  the  habits  of  the 
two  species  are  similar.  Only  one  nest  and  set  of  eggs  have  been 
discovered,  and  they  were  taken  by  Mr.  Ernest  Thompson  on  the 
Manitoba  plains. 


. ,  -.  I 


I 


'1' 


TREE   SPARROW. 
Spizella  monticola. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  black,  bay,  and  buff ;  crown  chestnut, 
sometimes  the  feathers  edged  with  ashy ;  sides  of  head  and  neck  ashy  ; 
line  from  behind  eyes  chestnut ;  wings  with  two  white  bars ;  edges  of  tail- 
feathers  white  ;  below,  dull  white,  breast  and  throat  tinged  with  ash  :  spot 
of  brown  on  th(;  breast ;  tlanks  shaded  with  brown.     Length  6^  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  ground  or  in  a  low  bush  ;  made  of  grass,  twigs,  and 
roots,  —  sometimes  cemented  with  mud,  —  lined  with  hair  or  feathers. 

E^^^s.  4-5  ;  pale  green  or  greenish  blue,  spotted  with  reddish  brown ; 
0.75  X  0.60 

This  handsome  winter  Sparrow  arrives  from  the  northern 
regions  in  New  England  about  the  close  of  Ocfcl  er,  withdraw- 
ing from  Hudson  Bay  and  the  neighboring  countries  some- 
time in  the  month  of  September.  The  species  consequently, 
like  many  more  of  our  Fringillas,  only  measuies  its  speed  by 
the  resources  of  subsistence  it  is  able  to  obtam,  and  thus 
straggling  southward  as  the  winter  advances,  it  enters  Pennsyl- 
vania only  about  the  beginning  of  November ;  there,  as  well  as 
in  the  maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts,  and  perhaps  as  far 
south  as  Virginia,  the  Tree  Sparrow  is  often  associated  with 
the  hardy  Snow  Birds,  gleaning  a  similar  kind  of  subsistence ; 
and  when  the  severity  of  winter  commences,  leaving  the  woods, 
gardens,  and  uplands  in  which  it  is  an  occasional  visitor,  it 
seeks  in  company  the  shelter  of  some  bushy  swamp,  thickly 
shaded  brook,  or  spring.     Near  Fresh  Pond,  in  this  vicinity, 


CHIPPING  SPARROW. 


333 


these  birds  are  at  that  season  numerous,  and  roost  together 
near  the  margin  of  the  reeds,  almost  in  the  society  of  the 
Blackbirds,  who  seek  out  a  similar  place  of  warmth  and  shelter 
as  the  chilling  frosts  begin  to  prevail. 

At  this  cool  and  gloomy  season,  and  down  to  the  close  of 
the  first  week  in  November,  as  they  pass  from  branch  to 
branch  and  play  capriciously  round  each  other,  they  keep  up 
almost  perpetually  a  low  and  pleasant  liquid  warble,  not  much 
unlike  that  of  the  YiUow  Bird  {Fringilia  tristis),  but  less 
varied.  Sometimes  two  or  three  at  the  same  time  will  tune  up 
s'weedit  s'weedit  weet,  and  s'waidit  s^waidit  weei,  accompanied 
by  some  tremulous  trilling  and  variation,  which,  though  rather 
sad  and  querulous,  is  heard  at  this  silent  season  \ilh  peculiar 
delight.  In  summer,  during  the  breeding-time,  they  express 
considerable  melody. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins  they  breed  around  the  Hudson 
Bay  settlements,  making  a  nest  in  the  herbage,  formed  exter- 
nally of  dry  grass,  and  lined  with  soft  hair  or  down,  probably 
from  vegetables,  in  the  manner  of  the  Yellow  Bird.  About  the 
beginnixig  of  April  they  leave  the  Middle  States  for  their  sum- 
mer quarters,  and  arrive  around  Severn  River  in  May ;  they 
also  probably  propagate  in  Newfoundland,  where  they  have 
been  observed.  With  us  they  are  still  seen  in  numbers  to  the 
19  th  of  April. 

Numbers  of  the  Tree  Sparrow  winter  regularly  in  the  Maritime 
Provinces  of  Canada.  Macoun  reports  the  species  common  in 
summer  at  Lake  Mistassini,  which  lie.'  a  little  to  the  southward  of 
Hudson  Bay. 


li^; 


CHIPPING   SPARROW. 

CHIPPY.     HAIR-BIRD. 

Spizella  SOCIALIS. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  grayish  brown,  black,  and  bay  ;  crown 
chestnut ;  forehead  black ;  sides  of  head  and  neck  ashy ;  dull  white  line 
over  eyes ;  dusky  stripe  from  bill  through  eyes ;  tail  forked  and  dusky 
with  pale  edgings  ;  wings  with  two  white  bars  ;  below,  dull  white,  tinged 
with  ash  on  breast  and  sides.    Length  about  ^Yz  inches. 


iUl 


«■ 


334 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


Nest.  In  a  pasture,  orchard,  or  garden,  placed  in  a  bush  or  low  tree ; 
composed  of  grass,  —  sometimes  mixed  with  roots,  —  thickly  lined  with 
horse-hair. 

^Vi""-*"'  4~5 ;  bluish  green,  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end,  with 
brown,  black,  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  species,  with  the  Song  Sparrow,  is  probably  the  most 
numerous,  common,  and  famihar  bird  in  the  United  States, 
inhabiting  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Florida,  westward  to  the  banks 
of  the  Missouri,  and  Mr.  Townsend  found  it  to  be  a  common 
species  in  the  Territory  of  Oregon.  Aware  of  the  many  para- 
sitic enemies  of  the  feather-^d  race  which  it  has  to  encounter, 
who  prowl  incessantly,  and  particularly  in  quest  of  its  eggs,  it 
approaches  almost  instinctively  the  precincts  of  houses,  barns, 
and  stables,  and  frequently  ventures  into  the  centre  of  the 
noisy  and  bustling  city,  to  seek  in  the  cultivated  court  an 
asylum  for  its  expected  progeny.  Soon  sensible  of  favor  or 
immunity,  it  often  occupies  with  its  nest  the  thick  shrubs  of 
the  garden  within  a  few  yards  of  the  neighboring  habitation, 
by  the  side  perhaps  of  a  frequented  walk,  in  the  low  rose-bush, 
the  lilac,  or  any  other  familiar  plant  affording  any  degree  of 
shelter  or  security,  and  will  at  times  regularly  visit  the  thresh- 
old, the  piazza,  or  farm-yard  for  the  crumbs  which  intention 
or  accident  may  afford  it.  On  other  occasions  the  orchard 
trees  are  chosen  for  its  habitation,  or  in  the  lonely  woods  an 
evergreen,  cedar,  or  fir  is  selected  for  the  purpose.  It  makes 
no  pretensions  to  song,  but  merely  chips  in  complaint  when 
molested,  or  mounting  the  low  boughs  of  some  orchard  tree  or 
shrub,  utters  a  quickly  articulated  ascending  'tsh  'tsh  'tsh  'tsh 
Ush  tshe  tshe,  almost  like  the  jingling  of  farthings,  and  a  little 
resembling  the  faint  warble  of  the  Can:  ry,  but  without  any  of 
its  variety  or  loudness.  This  note,  such  as  it  is,  is  continued 
often  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  but  is  litde  louder  than  the 
chirping  of  a  cricket,  and  uttered  by  the  mala  while  attending 
his  brooding  mate.  For  many  weeks  through  the  summer  and 
during  fine  weather  this  note  is  often  given  from  time  to  time 
in  the  night,  like  the  revery  of  a  dream. 

The  nest  of  the  Chipping  Bird  varies  sometimes  consider- 
ably in  its  materials  and  composition.     The  external  layer, 


CHIPPING  SPARROW. 


335 


seldom  so  thick  but  that  it  may  be  readily  seen  through,  is 
composed  of  d»"v  stalks  of  withered  grass,  and  lined  more  or 
less  with  horse  or  cow  hair.  The  Cuckoo  destroys  many  eggs 
of  this  timid,  harmless,  and  sociable  little  bird,  as  the  nests  are 
readily  discovered  and  numerous ;  on  such  occasions  the  little 
sufferer  expresses  great  and  unusual  anxiety  for  the  security  of 
her  charge,  and  after  being  repeatedly  robbed,  the  female  sits 
closely  sometimes  upon  perhaps  only  two  eggs,  desirous  at  any 
rate  to  escape  if  possible  with  some  of  her  little  offspring.  Two 
or  more  broods  are  raised  in  the  season. 

Towards  the  close  of  summer  the  parents  and  their  brood 
are  seen  busily  engaged  collecting  seeds  and  insects  in  the 
neighboring  fields  and  lanes,  and  now  become  so  numerous,  as 
the  autumn  advances,  that  flitting  before  the  path  on  either 
side  as  the  passenger  proceeds,  they  almost  resemble  the 
falling  leaves  of  the  season  rustling  before  the  cheerless  blast ; 
and  finally,  as  their  food  fails  and  the  first  snows  begin  to 
appear,  advertised  of  the  threatening  famine,  they  disappear 
and  winter  in  the  Southern  S;  ites.  In  the  month  of  January, 
in  Georgia,  "during  the  continuance  of  the  cool  weather  and 
frosty  nights,  I  frequently  heard  at  dusk  a  confused  chirping  or 
piping  like  that  of  frogs,  and  at  length  discovered  the  noise  to 
proceed  from  dense  flocks  of  the  Chipping  Sparrows  roosting 
or  huddling  near  together  in  a  pile  of  thick  brush,  where,  with 
the  Song  Sparrow  also,  they  find  means  to  pass  the  cool 
nights.  The  Chipping  Sparrow  occurs  throughout  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  and  westward  to  the  Rockies  and  northward  to 
the  Great  Slave  Lake  region.  It  is  abundant  in  Quebec  and 
Ontario. 


Note.  —  One  example  of  Brewer's  Sparrow  {Sphella 
breweri),  a  bird  that  dwells  chiefly  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Rockies,  has  been  ta!:en  in  Massachusetts. 


336 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


FIELD   SPARROW. 

Spizella  pusilla. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  rufous,  black,  and  buff;  crown  chestnut,  with 
obscure  median  line  of  ash  ;  hind  neck,  sides  of  head  and  neck  ash  ;  cheek 
shaded  with  brown ;  wings  with  two  white  bars ;  below,  white  ;  brenst  and 
throat  tinged  with  yellow.     Length  5^  inches. 

AVjA  In  a  field,  pasture,  or  open  woodland,  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  in 
a  tangled  thicket,  sometimes  placed  on  a  low  bush  or  vine ;  composed  of 
grass,  twigs,  and  straw,  lii^ed  with  hair,  fine  roots,  or  fur. 

E^\i^s.  3-5;  dull  white  or  with  buff  or  green  tint,  usually  thickly  spotted 
with  reddish  brown;  0.70  X  0.55. 

The  Small  Brown  Sparrow  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  and  New 
England  from  the  Southern  States,  where  it  passes  the  winter, 
in  the  beginning  of  April.  It  is  with  us  a  shy,  wild,  and  retir- 
ing species,  partial  to  dry  hills  and  pastures,  and  open,  bushy, 
secluded  woods,  livmg  much  in  trees.  In  autumn,  indeed,  the 
pair,  accompanied  by  their  brood,  in  small  flitting  flocks  leave 
their  native  wilds,  and  glean  at  times  in  the  garden  or  orchard ; 
yet  but  little  is  now  seen  of  them,  as  they  only  approach  culti- 
vated grounds  a  few  weeks  before  their  departure.  These 
Sparrows,  if  indeed  they  are  the  same  as  those  described  by 
Wilson,  in  winter  flock  together  in  great  numbers  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  mingling  with  the  Chipping  Birds  and 
other  species,  they  now  line  the  roads,  fences,  and  straggling 
bushes  near  the  plantations  in  such  numbers  as,  with  their 
sober  and  brown  livery,  to  resemble  almost  a  shower  of  rust- 
ling and  falling  leaves,  continually  haunting  the  advancing 
steps  of  the  traveller  in  hungry,  active  flocks,  driven  by  the 
storms  of  winter  into  this  temporary  and  irksome  exile.  But 
no  sooner  does  the  return  of  early  spring  arrive  than  they  flit 
entirely  from  the  Southern  wilds  to  disperse  in  pairs  and  seek 
out  again  their  favorite  natal  regions  of  the  North. 

Our  little  bird  has  a  pretty  loud  and  shrill  note,  which  may 
be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  possesses  some  variety 
of  tone  and  expression.  Sometimes  it  is  something  like  twe 
twee  twdi,  tiv  ^iw  ^tw  ^tw  'tw  'iw  ^iw,  beginning  loud  and 


FIELD  SPARROW. 


337 


slow,  and  going  up  and  down,  shrill  and  quick,  with  a  reverbe- 
rating tone  ahnost  as  rapid  as  the  drumming  of  the  Ruffed 
Grouse.  At  other  times  the  sound  appears  like  te  de  de  de  de 
d*  d^  d*  rt"  d'  iC  dr\  rapid  and  echoing ;  then  weet  wect  weed 
wat  te  V/  \i  \i  V/  \i  V/,  also  weet  weet  weet  weet''  wf  wf  wf 
wf  trr ;  the  whole  of  these  notes  rising  and  running  together 
into  a  short  trill  something  like  the  song  of  the  Canary,  but 
less  varied,  and  usually  in  a  querulou.)  or  somewhat  plaintive 
tone,  though  towards  the  close  of  summer  I  have  heard  indi- 
viduals nearly  as  musical  and  warbling  as  the  common  Yellow 
Bird.  These  tones  are  also  somewhat  similar  to  the  reverbera- 
tions of  the  Chipping  Bird,  but  quite  loud  and  sonorous,  and 
without  the  changeless  monotony  of  that  species.  In  fact,  our 
bird  would  be  worthy  a  place  in  a  cage  as  a  songster  of  some 
merit.  Like  most  of  the  Sparrows,  the  food  of  this  species 
consists  of  seeds  and  insects  ;  and  they  also  search  the  leaves 
and  branches  at  times  in  quest  of  moths,  of  which  they  appear 
fond. 

The  Field  Sparrow  is  rather  rare  north  of  Massachusetts.  It 
has  not  been  taken  in  the  Maritime  Provinces,  though  Mr.  Neilson 
thinks  it  not  uncommon  near  the  city  of  Quebec,  and  it  is  common 
throughout  Ontario  and  in  Manitoba. 


Note.  —  A  few  examples  of  the  Clay-colored  Sparrow 
(Spizdla  pallida)  wander  every  year  from  their  usual  habitat  on 
the  Great  Plains  to  Iowa  and  Illinois. 


i'M 


VOL.    I. 22 


i<  I 


FOX   SPARROW. 
Passepelia  iliaca. 

Char  Above,  foxy  red  (brightest  on  wings  and  rump)  streaked  ^\ith 
ash  (in  winter  the  ash  is  sometimes  obscure);  head  and  tail  without 
streaks ;  wings  with  two  white  bars ;  below,  white  spotted  with  red- 
Length  about  7  inches. 

Nest.  Amid  moss,  or  on  a  low  bush  ;  composed  of  grass  and  moss,  lined 
with  grass,  roots,  and  feathers. 

^g.^^'  4-5 !  white  with  green  or  blue  tinge,  spotted  and  blotched  with 
brovn  of  several  shades  (sometimes  the  brown  almost  conceals  the 
ground  color);  great  variation  in  size,  average  about  0.80  X  065. 

This  large  and  handsome  Sparrow,  after  passing  the  summer 
and  breeding-season  in  the  northern  regions  of  the  continent 
around  Hudson  Bay,  and  farther  north  and  west  perhaps  to 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  visits  us  in  straggHng  parties  or  pairs 
from  the  middle  of  October  to  November,  At  this  time  it 
frequents  low,  sheltered  thickets  in  moist  and  watery  situations, 
where  it  usually  descends  to  the  ground  and  is  busily  employed 
in  scratching  up  the  earth  and  rustling  among  the  fallen  leaves 
in  o'aest  of  seeds,  worms,  and  insects,  but  more  particularly  the 
last.    It  migrates  In  a  desultory  manner,  and  sometimes  arrives 


SLATE-COLORED  JUNCO. 


339 


as  far  south  as  Georgia,  passing  the  winter  in  the  Southern 
States  and  retiring  early  in  the  spring  to  its  favorite  boreal 
retreats.  These  Sparrows  are  silent  birds,  rather  tame  and 
unsuspicious;  when  alarrried  or  separated  their  call  is  simply 
shep,  shep ;  yet  at  times  in  the  spring,  a  little  before  their 
departure,  they  whisper  forth  ^  few  low  and  sweet  notes  indi- 
cative of  the  existence  of  vocai  powers  in  the  pairing  season. 

According  to  Richardson  this  species  breeds  in  the  woody 
districts  of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  68th  parallel. 

Nuttall  was  correct  in  his  conjecture  that  the  Fox  Sparrow  is  a 
vocalist.  It  ranks  as  a  peer  of  the  best  songsters  of  the  entire 
Sparrow-Finch  tribe. 

I  have  heard  the  song  frequently  in  New  Brunswick,  when  cold 
storms  have  detained  the  birds  on  their  journey  north  until  the 
approach  of  their  mating  season.  Sometimes  they  arrive  there 
early  in  March,  and  pass  on  in  a  couple  of  weeks,  without  uttering 
any  other  nofe  *han  a  metallic  cheep.  But  when  they  tarry  until 
after  the  first  week  in  April  they  then  burst  into  full  song,  and 
sing  almost  continuously.  It  is  a  "fervent,  sensuous,  and  withal 
perfectly  rounded  carol,"  writes  William  Brewster ;  and  he  adds : 
"It  expresses  careless  joy  and  exultant  masculine  vigor  rather  than 
the  finer  shades  of  sentiment."  The  voice  is  strong,  of  wide  com- 
pass, and  sweet,  rich  tone. 

Nests  of  this  species  have  been  found  on  the  Magdalen  Islands 
and  in  Newfoundland,  where  it  is  called  the  Hedge  Sparrow,  and 
Thompson  reports  it  breeding  in  numbers  on  Duck  Mountain  in 
Manitoba. 


SLATE-COLORED   JUNCO. 

SNOW   BIRD.     WHITE   BILL. 
JUNCO   HVEMALIS. 

Char.  Upper  parts,  neck,  and  breast  dark  slate  or  blackish  ash; 
below  — from  breast  backward  —  white;  outer  tail-feathers  and  bill, 
white.    Length  6^  to  dVz  inches. 

Nest.  In  grassy  woodland,  or  old  meadow,  or  by  the  roadside,  some- 
times in  the  garden  of  a  farm-house ;  placed  under  the  shelter  of  a  mound 
or  stump,  or  amid  long  grass,  composed,  usually,  of  grass,  sometimes 
mixed  with  roots  or  moss;  lining  usually  of  feathers,  but  sometimes  hair, 
fur,  or  moss  is  used. 


' 


f^' 


Hi 


I  j 


340 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


■^^S"^-  4-5 ;  tlull  white,  or  tinted  with  green  or  buff,  spotted  chiefly 
around  larger  end  with  reddish-brown  and  lilac;  0.80  X  9.60. 

This  hardy  and  very  numerous  species,  common  to  both 
continents,  pours  in  flocks  from  the  northern  regions  into  the 
United  States  about  the  middle  of  October,  where  their  ap- 
pearance is  looked  upon  as  the  presage  of  approaching  winter. 
At  this  season  they  migrate  into  the  Southern  States  in  great 
numbers,  and  seem  to  arrive  in  augmenting  hosts  with  he 
progress  of  the  wintry  storms  and  driving  snows,  before  which 
they  fly  for  food  rather  than  shelter;  for  even  during  the 
descent  of  the  whitening  inundation,  and  while  the  tempest 
still  rages  without  abatement,  these  hardy  and  lonely  wander- 
ers are  often  seen  flitting  before  the  blast,  and,  seeking  ad- 
vantage from  the  sweeping  current,  descend  to  collect  a  scanty 
pittance  from  the  frozen  and  exposed  ground,  or  stop  to  col- 
lect the  seeds  which  still  remain  upon  the  unshorn  weeds 
rising  through  the  dreary  waste.  At  such  times  they  are  also 
frequently  accompanied  by  the  Snow  Bunting,  the  humbly 
dressed  Yellow  Bird,  and  the  querulous  Chickadee.  Driven 
to  straits,  however,  by  hunger,  they  at  length  become  more 
familiar,  and  are  now  seen  about  the  barns  and  out-houses, 
spreading  themselves  in  busy  groups  over  the  yard,  and  even 
approaching  the  steps  of  the  door  in  towns  and  cities,  and 
gleaning  thankfully  from  the  threshold  any  crumbs  or  acci- 
dental fragments  of  provision.  Amidst  all  this  threatening  and 
starving  weather,  which  they  encounter  almost  alone,  they  are 
still  lively,  active,  and  familiar.  The  roads,  presenting  an 
accidental  resource  of  food  for  these  northern  swarms,  are  con- 
sequently more  frequented  by  them  than  the  fields.  Before  the 
severity  of  the  season  commences,  they  are  usually  only  seen 
moving  in  families ;  and  the  parents,  watchful  for  the  common 
safety,  still  continue  by  reiterated  chirpings  to  warn  their  full- 
grown  brood  of  every  approach  of  danger,  and,  withdrawing 
them  from  any  suspicious  observation,  wander  off  to  securer 
ground.  At  this  time  they  frequent  the  borders  of  woods,  seek 
through  the  thickets  and  among  the  fallen  leaves  for  their 
usual  food  of  seeds  and  dormant  insects  or  their  larvae.     Their 


SLATE-COLORED    JUNCO. 


341 


caution  is  not  unnecessary,  for  on  the  skirts  of  the  larger  flocks 
the  famished  Hawk  prowls  for  his  fated  prey,  and  descending 
with  a  sudden  and  successful  sweep,  carries  terror  through  all 
the  wandering  and  retreating  ranks. 

In  the  latter  end  of  March  or  beginning  of  April,  as  the 
weather  begins  to  be  mild,  they  re-appear  in  flocks  from  the 
South,  frequenting  the  orchard  trees,  or  retreating  to  the  shel- 
ter of  the  woods,  and  seem  now  to  prefer  the  shade  of  thickets 
or  the  sides  of  hills,  and  frequently  utter  a  few  sweet,  clear,  and 
tender  notes,  almost  similar  to  the  touching  warble  of  the 
European  Robin  Redbreast.  The  jealous  contest  for  the 
selection  of  mates  already  also  takes  place,  soon  after  which 
they  retire  to  the  northern  regions  to  breed ;  though,  accord- 
ing to  Wilson,  many  remove  only  to  the  high  ranges  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains,  where,  in  the  interior  of  Virginia,  and 
towards  the  western  sources  of  the  Susquehanna,  they  also 
breed  in  great  numbers,  fixing  their  nests  on  the  ground  or 
among  the  grass,  the  pairs  still  associating  in  near  communion 
with  each  other.  In  the  fur  countries  they  were  not  observed 
by  Richardson  beyond  the  5  7th  parallel. 

The  Junco  breeds  from  northern  New  England  northward,  and 
on  the  higher  hills  south  to  North  Carolina.  It  is  an  abundant 
summer  resident  of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  winters  there  in 
small  numbers.  It  also  winters  sparsely  in  northern  New  England, 
and  from  Massachusetts  southward  it  is  a  common  winter  bird. 

The  song  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow. 
Though  usually  building  its  nest  on  the  ground,  a  few  have  been 
found  in  other  situations.  Sheriff  Bishop,  of  Kentville,  N,  S.,  re- 
corded in  the  O.  &  O.  for  September,  1888,  finding  nests  on  branch  s 
of  low  trees,  in  holes  in  apple-trees,  etc. 


Note.  —  Examples  of  the  Oregon  Junco  (/.  hyemalis  ore^ovMs), 
which  was  discovered  by  Nuttall  and  Richardson  in  the  forests  of 
Oregon,  have  wandered  into  Michigan  and  MassachusLcts. 

Another  species,  the  Carolina  Junco  {Junco  carolinensts)^ 
was  first  described  by  Mr.  William  Brewster  from  specimens  ob- 
tained by  him  on  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  in  June,  1885. 
It  is  much  larger  and  lighter  colored  than  hyemalis,  and  has  a 
horn-colored  bill. 


Hi. 


'I 


ii; 


% 


342 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


SWAMP    SPARROW. 
Melospiza  georgiana. 

Char.  Above,  streaked  with  brown,  black,  and  buff;  crown  bay, 
sometimes  with  indistinct  median  line  of  ash  and  streaks  of  black ;  fore- 
head black ;  brown  stripe  behind  eyes ,  sides  of  head  and  neck  ash ; 
below,  dull  white,  breast  shaded  with  ash,  sides  shaded  with  brown; 
wings  and  tail  tinged  with  bay.     Length  about  5^  inches. 

Nest.  Under  cover  of  long  grass,  in  a  swamp  or  wet  meadow;  usually 
made  entirely  of  grass,  though  sometimes  weed-stems  are  added  to  the 
exterior,  and  hair  is  used  in  lining. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  dull  white,  tinted  with  green,  blue,  or  pink,  blotched,  often 
clouded,  with  lilac  and  several  shades  of  brown  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

The  aquatic  habits  of  these  common,  though  little  known, 
birds  is  one  of  their  most  remarkable  peculiarities.  In  New 
England  they  arrive  from  the  Southern  States,  where  they  win- 
ter, about  the  middle  of  April,  and  take  up  their  summer  resi- 
dence in  the  swamps  and  marshy  meadows  through  which, 
often  without  flying,  they  thread  their  devious  way  with  the 
same  alacrity  as  the  Rail,  with  whom  they  are  indeed  often 
associated  in  neighborhood.  In  consequence  of  this  perpetual 
brushing  through  sedge  and  bushes,  their  feathers  are  fre- 
quently so  worn  that  their  tails  appear  almost  like  those  of 
rats,  and  are  very  often  flirted  in  the  manner  of  the  Wagtail. 
Occasionally,  however,  they  mount  to  the  tops  of  low  bushes 
or  willow-tree;  and  chant  forth  a  few  trilling,  rather  monoto- 
nous minor  notes,  resembling,  in  some  measure,  the  song  of 
the  Field  Sparrow,  and  appearing  like  twe  tw'  hv'  hv'  hv^  tw' 
tzve,  and  twP  hu'l  ^tw  tia^  tzue,  uttered  in  a  pleasant  and  some- 
what varied  warble.  These  notes  are  made  with  considerable 
effort,  and  sometimes  with  a  spreading  of  the  tail.  In  the 
spring,  on  their  first  arrival,  this  song  is  delivered  with  much 
spirit,  and  echoes  through  the  marshes  like  the  trill  of  the 
Canary.  The  sound  now  resembles  the  syllables  '/?£/  ^tw  'tw 
'hvee  'hvee  'tw  'hve  'tive,  or  '^shp  Ushp  Ushe  'tsh  'tsh  'tsh  Ush, 
beginning  loud,  sweet,  and  somewhat  plaintive ;  and  the  song 
is  continued  till  late  in  the  morning,  and  after  sunset  in  the 
evening.     This  reverberating  tone  is  again  somewhat  similar 


SWAMP  SP/.RROW. 


343 


to  that  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow,  but  far  louder  and  more  musi- 
cal. In  the  intervals  the  Swamp  Sparrow  descends  into  the 
grassy  tussocks  and  low  bushes  in  quest  of  his  insect  food,  as 
well  as  to  repose  out  of  sight ;  and  while  here  his  movements 
are  as  silent  and  secret  as  those  of  a  mouse.  The  rice  planta- 
tions and  river  swamps  are  the  favorite  hibernal  resorts  of 
these  birds  in  Louisiana,  Georgia,  and  the  Carolinas ;  here  they 
are  very  numerous,  and  skulk  among  the  canes,  reeds,  and  rank 
grass,  solicitous  of  concealment,  and  always  exhibiting  their 
predilection  for  watery  places.  In  the  breeding  season,  before 
the  ripening  of  many  seeds,  they  live  much  on  the  insects  of 
the  marshes  in  which  they  are  found,  particularly  the  smaller 
coleopterous  kinds,  Carabi  and  Curculiones.  They  extend 
their  northern  migrations  as  far  as  the  coasts  of  Labrador  and 
Newfoundland. 

They  probably  raise  two  or  three  broods  in  a  season,  being 
equally  prolific  with  our  other  Sparrows.  They  express  extreme 
solicitude  for  their  young  even  after  they  are  fully  fledged  and 
able  to  provide  for  themselves ;  the  young  also,  in  their  turn, 
possess  uncommon  cunning  and  agility,  running  and  concealing 
themselves  in  the  sedge  of  the  wet  meadows.  They  are  quite 
as  difficult  to  catch  as  field-mice,  and  seldom  on  these  emer- 
gencies attempt  to  take  wing.  We  have  observed  one  of  these 
sagacious  birds  dart  from  one  tussock  to  another,  and  at  last 
dive  into  the  grassy  tuft  in  such  a  manner,  or  elude  the  grasp 
so  well,  as  seemingly  to  disappear  or  burrow  into  the  earth. 
Their  robust  legs  and  feet,  as  well  as  long  claws,  seem  pur- 
posely provided  to  accelerate  this  clinging  and  running  on  the 
uneven  ground. 

This  species  is  common  throughout  the  settled  portions  of  east- 
ern Canada,  and  abundant  on  the  St.  Clair  Flats  and  in  Manitoba. 


; 


SHARP-TAILED   SPARROW. 

SHORE   FINCH. 
Ammodramus  CAUDACUTJS. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  gray  tinged  with  olive ;  crown  darker,  with 
median  stripe  of  ashy  gray  and  two  stripes  of  black;  back  streaked  with 
black;  stripes  of  buff  above  and  below  eyes  meeting  behind  ear-coverts; 
wings  edged  with  yellow;  tail-feathers  narrow,  with  acutely  pointed  tips; 
below,  dull  white,  breast  and  sides  tinged  with  buff  and  streaked  with 
black.     Length  about  5^  inches. 

N'est.  In  a  salt-marsh  or  wet  meadow,  amid  a  cluster  of  reeds  or  tuft 
of  sedges,  to  the  stems  of  which  it  is  sometimes  fastened ;  a  somewhat 
bulky  structure  of  grass  and  weed-stems,  lined  with  fine  grass. 

Eggs.  4-5;  dull  white  or  tinged  with  buff  or  green,  thickly  spotted 
with  brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Shore  Finch  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  low  islands  and 
marshy  sea- coasts  from  Massachusetts  to  Texas,  living  on 
small  shrimps,  marine  insects,  and  probably  grass  seeds,  mov- 
ing through  the  rank  herbage  nearly  with  the  same  agility  ar;d 
timidity  as  a  Swamp  Sparrow,  to  which  in  structure  of  the 
feet  and  stoutness  of  the  bill   it  bears  considerable  affinity. 


ACADIAN   SHARP-TAILED   SPARROW. 


345 


These  birds  are  not  rare,  though  not  so  numerous  as  the  Sea- 
side Sparrow,  with  which  they  corrmonly  associate. 

These  Finches  frequent  the  water,  and  walk  on  the  floating 
weeds  as  if  on  the  land ;  throughout  the  winter  they  remain 
gregarious  till  spring,  when  they  separate  for  the  purpose  of 
breeding.  They  are  almost  silent,  a  single  fwee^  being  now 
all  they  are  heard  to  ntter ;  and  even  in  the  spring,  so  defec- 
tive are  they  in  melody  that  their  notes  are  scarcely  worthy 
the  name  of  a  song.  They  nest  on  the  ground,  amid  the  short 
marsh-grass  near  the  line  of  high-water  mark ;  a  slight  hollow 
is  made,  and  then  lined  with  delicate  grass.  They  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season  in  the  Middle  States. 

"  Sharp-tails  "  have  been  traced  north  to  Prince  Edward's  Island, 
but  in  1887  Mr.  Jonathan  Dwight,  Jr.,  discovered  that  true  cauda- 
cutus  had  not  been  taken  beyond  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  the  birds 
found  to  the  northward  of  that  point  being  a  distinct  variety,  which 
he  named  subvirgatus. 


ACADIAN   SHARP-TAILED   SPARROW. 

Ammodramus  caudacutus  submrgatus. 

Char.  "  Similar  in  size  and  coloring  to  A.  caudacutus,  but  paler  and 
much  less  conspicuously  streaked  beneath  with  pale  greenish  gray  instead 
of  black  or  deep  brown.  Bill  averages  smaller.  Compared  with  nelsoni 
it  is  much  paler  and  grayer,  generally  larger,  and  with  a  longer  bill " 
(Dwight). 

Nest  and  Eggs  are  not  known  to  differ  from  those  of  true  caudacutus. 

The  habitat  of  this  newly  discovered  sub-species,  or,  rather,  the 
limit  of  its  range,  has  not  yet  been  determined.  Mr.  Dwight  gives 
it  as  "  Marshes  of  southern  New  Brunswick,  Prince  Edward's 
Island,  and  probably  Nova  Scotia,  and  southward  in  migration 
along  the  Atlantic  coast."  In  habits  the  present  bird  differs  from 
caudacutus  in  frequenting  fresh-water  marshes  and  dry  meadows 
on  the  margins  of  inland  streams. 

The  song  of  this  bird  — if  its  few  wheezy  notes  deserve  such 
recognition  —  is  a  rather  ludicrous  effort,  and  suggests  a  bad  cold 
in  the  head.  Mr.  Dwight  represents  it  by  the  syllables  Ih-se-e- 
e-e-oop.  All  I  remember  having  heard  from  the  specimens  I 
encountered  is  the  see-e-e-e-oop,  delivered  with  apparent  effort,  as 
if  choking. 


346 


SINGING   BIRDS. 


NELSON'S   SPARROW. 
Ammodramus  caudacutus  nelsoni. 

Char.  Differs  from  the  type  by  the  colors  of  the  back  being  very 
sharply  defined,  the  white  a  clearer  shade,  and  the  brown  a  richer  and 
more  decided  umber ;  chest  and  sides  deep  buff.  Size  larger  than  true 
caudacutus. 

Nest  and  Eggs  similar  to  caudacutus. 

Nelson's  Sharpi-tail  was  described  by  Mr.  J  A.  Allen  in  1875. 
It  is  found  in  summer  on  the  marshes  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
and  in  winter  on  tht  Atlantic  coast  from  Massachusetts  (sparingly) 
to  North  Carolina,  and  possibly  to  the  Gulf  States. 


i 


SEASIDE   SPARROW. 

seaside  finch. 
Ammodramus  maritimus. 

Char.  Above,  dull  olive  brown,  back  and  head  with  indistinct  streaks 
of  ashy ;  superciliary  line  and  edge  of  wing  yellow  ;  below,  dull  white,  the 
breast  and  sides  with  dark  streaks.     Length  about  6  inches. 

Nest.  Hidden  amid  a  tuft  of  grass  or  coarse  sedges  in  a  salt  marsh  or 
wet  meadow  ;  sometimes  placed  on  the  ground,  often  a  few  inches  above 
it ;  composed  of  dry  grass. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  dull  white  with  green  or  buff  tint,  spotted  with  brown ; 
0.86  X  0.60. 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the  maritime  marshy 
grounds  and  in  the  sea  islands  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  Southern  States.  It  confine;^  its  excur- 
sions almost  wholly  within  the  bounds  of  the  tide-water,  leav- 
ing its  favorite  retreats  for  more  inland  situations  only  after 
the  prevalence  of  violent  easterly  storms.  In  quest  of  marine 
insects,  cnistacea,  shrimps,  and  minute  shell-fish,  it  courses 
along  the  borders  of  the  strand  with  all  the  nimbleness  of  a 
Sandpiper,  examining  the  sea-weeds  and  other  exuviae  for  its 
fare ;  it  seeks  out  its  prey  also  at  dusk,  as  well  as  at  other 
times,  and  usually  roosts  on  the  ground  like  a  I^rk.  In  short, 
it  derives  its  whole  subsistence  from  the  margin  of  the  ocean. 


SEASIDE  SPARROW. 


347 


and  its  flesh  is  even  imbued  with  the  rank  or  fishy  taste  to  be 
expected  from  the  nature  of  its  food.  At  other  times  it  re- 
mains amidst  the  thickest  of  the  sea-grass,  and  climbs  upon 
the  herbage  with  as  much  dexterity  as  it  runs  on  the  ground. 
Its  feet  ar  l  legs  for  this  purpose  are  robust,  as  in  the  Swamp 
Sparrow.  It  appears  to  rear  two  broods  in  the  season.  In 
May  and  June  the  Seaside  Finch  may  be  seen  almost  at  all 
hours  perched  on  the  top  of  some  rank  weed  near  the  salt- 
marsh,  singing  with  much  emphasis  the  few  notes  which  com- 
pose its  monotonous  song.  When  approached  it  seeks  refuge 
in  the  rank  grass  by  dc;scending  down  the  stalks,  or  flies  off"  to 
a  distance,  flirting  its  wings,  and  then,  alighting  suddenly,  runs 
off  with  great  nimblenesi 

The  Seaside  Finch  is  now  considered  a  rare  bird  in  Massa- 
chusetts, though  common,  if  not  abundant,  in  Connecticut.  It  is 
not  quite  so  exclusively  maritime  as  Nuttall  supposed,  as  it  is  found 
on  the  margins  of  rivers  so  far  inland  that  the  water  is  scarcely 
brackish. 


Note.  —  Scott's  Seaside  Sparrow  (A.  maritimus  penin- 
sula!) was  first  described  from  specimens  taken  by  Mr.  W.  E.  D. 
Scott  at  Tarpon  Springs,  Florida,  in  1888.  It  is  intermediate  in 
coloration  between  A.  m^rescens  and  A.  viaritiimis. 

This  race  has  been  found  only  along  the  southwestern  coast  of 
r-'lorida  and  on  Grand  Isle,  off  Louisiana. 

The  Dusky  Seaside  Sparrow  (^Amviodrajmis  nigrescens)  — 
which  differs  from  maritimus  in  being  black  above,  streaked  with 
olive  and  gray,  beneath  white,  streaked  with  black  —  occurs  in 
southern  Florida. 


' 


f 


AMERICAN   GOLDFINCH. 


YELLOW   BIRD.     THISTLE   BIRD.     THISTLE   FINCH.     WILD 

CANARY. 

Spinus  tristis. 

Char.  Male  in  summer :  bright  gamboge  yellow  ;  crown,  wings,  and 
tail  black ;  upper  and  under  tail-coverts,  wing  and  tail  markings,  white. 
In  winter  the  male  resembles  the  female,  though  with  less  olive  tint. 
Female  :  above,  olive  brown  ;  below,  paler  or  yellowish  ;  forehead  with- 
out black  ;  wings  and  tail  much  the  same  as  in  the  male.  Length  about 
4^  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  pasture  or  orchard  ;  usually  placed  in  a  crotch  of  a  decidu- 
ous tree  lo  to  20  feet  from  the  ground;  a  compact  and  gracefully  formed 
cup,  made  of  grass  and  vegetable  fibre,  lined  with  grass  and  plant  down, 
and  often  with  hair. 

^SS^-  3~6  ;  white  with  tint  of  green  or  greenish  blue,  occasionally 
marked  with  faint  spots  of  brown  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  common,  active,  and  gregarious  Goldfinch  is  a  very 
general  inhabitant  of  the  United  States.  It  is  also  found  in 
summer  in  the  remote  interior  of  Canada,  in  the  fur  countries 
and  near  Lake  Winnipique,  in  the  49th  degree  of  latitude,  as 
well  as  in  the  remote  territory  of  Oregon  and  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  on  the  banks  of  Lewis's  River,  where  I  found  the 
nest  as  usual  with  white  eggs.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  also 
met  with  in  Mexico,  and  even  in  Guiana  and  Surinam  in  trop- 
ical America,  where  it  frequents  the  savannas.  Although 
many  of  these  birds  which  spend  the  summer  here  leave  at 
the  approach  of  winter,  yet  hungry  flocks  are  seen  to  arrive  in 


AMERICAN  GOLDFINCH. 


349 


this  part  of  New  England  throughout  that  season ;  and  some- 
times, in  company  with  the  Snow  Buntings,  in  the  inclement 
months  of  January  and  February,  they  may  be  seen  busily 
employed  in  gleaning  a  scanty  pittance  from  the  seeds  of  the 
taller  weeds,  which  rise  above  the  deep  and  drifted  snows.  As 
late  as  the  15  th  of  September  I  have  observed  a  nest  of  the 
Yellow  Bird  with  the  young  still  unfledged.  Their  migrations 
are  very  desultory,  and  do  not  probably  extend  very  far,  their 
progress  being  apparently  governed  principally  by  the  scarcity 
or  abundance  of  food  with  which  they  happen  to  be  supplied. 
Thus,  though  they  may  be  numerous  in  the  depth  of  winter,  as 
soon  as  the  weather  relaxes  in  the  month  of  March,  scarcely 
any  more  of  them,  are  to  be  seen,  having  at  this  time,  in  quest 
of  sustenance,  proceeded  probably  to  the  southern  extremity  of 
the  United  States.  Those  observed  in  tropical  America  may 
be  hibernal  wanderers  from  the  cooler  parts  of  Mexico.  At 
all  events  they  select  the  milder  chmates  of  the  Union  in 
which  to  pass  the  breeding  season,  as  at  this  time  they  are  but 
rarely  seen  in  the  Southern  States,  Kentucky  being  about  the 
boundary  of  their  summer  residence. 

Naturally  vagrant  and  wandering,  they  continue  to  live  in 
flocks  or  in  near  vicinage,  even  throughout  the  greatest  part  of 
the  selective  season.  As  the  fine  weather  of  spring  approaches 
they  put  off  their  humble  winter  dress,  and  the  males,  now 
appearing  in  their  temporary  golden  livery,  are  heard  tuning 
their  lively  songs  as  it  were  in  concert,  several  sitting  on  the 
same  tree  enjoying  the  exhilarating  scene,  basking  and  pluming 
themselves,  and  vying  with  each  other  in  the  delivery  of  their 
varied,  soft,  and  cheerful  warble.  They  have  also  the  faculty 
of  sinking  and  raising  their  voices  in  such  a  delightful  cadence 
that  their  music  at  times  seems  to  float  on  the  distant  breeze, 
scarcely  louder  than  the  hum  of  bees ;  it  then  breaks  out  as  it 
were  into  a  crescendo,  which  rings  like  the  loud  song  of  the 
Canary.  In  cages,  to  which  they  scon  become  familiar  and 
reconciled,  their  song  is  nearly  as  sonorous  and  animated  as 
that  of  the  latter.  When  engaged  in  quarrel  they  sometimes 
hurl  about  in  a  who'e  flock,  some,  as  it  were,  interfering  to 


I  / 


r 


3  so 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


; 


„  1 


make  peace,  others  amused  by  the  fray,  all  uttering  loud  and 
discordant  chirpings.  One  of  their  most  common  whining 
calls  while  engaged  in  collecting  seeds  in  gardens,  where  they 
seem  to  be  sensible  of  their  delinquency,  is  ^mdy  bi\  ^mdy  be. 
They  have  also  a  common  cry  like  Usiieveet  ^tshevee,  uttered  in 
a  slender,  complaining  accent.  These  and  some  other  twitter- 
ing notes  are  frequently  uttered  at  every  impulse  while  pursu- 
ing their  desultory  waving  flight,  rising  and  falling  as  they  shut 
or  expand  their  laboring  wings.  They  are  partial  to  gardens 
and  domestic  premises  in  the  latter  end  of  summer  and 
autumn,  collecting  oily  seeds  of  various  kinds  and  shelling 
them  with  great  address  and  familiarity,  if  undisturbed  often 
hanging  and  moving  about  head  downwards,  to  suit  their  con- 
venience while  thus  busily  and  craftily  employed.  They  have 
a  particular  fondness  for  thistle  seeds,  spreading  the  down  in 
clouds  around  them,  and  at  this  time  feeding  very  silently  and 
intently  ;  nor  are  they  very  easily  disturbed  while  thus  engaged 
in  the  useful  labor  of  destroying  the  germs  of  these  noxious 
weeds.  They  do  some  damage  occasionally  in  gardens  by 
their  indiscriminate  destruction  of  lettuce  and  flower  seeds, 
and  are  therefore  often  disliked  by  gardeners ;  but  their  use- 
fulness in  other  espects  far  counterbalances  the  trifling  inju- 
ries they  produce.  They  are  very  fond,  also,  of  washing  and 
bathing  themselves  in  mild  weather;  and  as  well  as  tender 
buds  of  trees  they  sometimes  collect  the  Confervas  of  springs 
and  brooks  as  a  variety  to  their  usual  fare. 

They  raise  sometimes  two  broods  in  the  season,  as  their 
nests  are  found  from  the  first  week  in  July  to  the  middle  of 
September.  In  1831  I  examined  several  nests,  and  from  the 
late  period  at  which  they  begin  to  breed  it  is  impossible  that 
they  can  ever  act  in  the  capacity  of  nurses  to  the  Cow 
Troopial.  This  procrastination  appears  to  be  occasioned  by 
the  lack  of  sufficiently  nutritive  diet,  the  seeds  on  which  they 
principally  feed  not  ripening  usually  before  July. 


Note.  —  The  Black-headed  Goldfinch  {Spinus  notatus), 
a  Mexican  bird,  is  credited  with  an  accidental  occurrence  in 
Kentucky. 


PINE  SISKIN. 


351 


PINE   SISKIN. 
pine  finch.   pine  linnet. 
*"  Spinus  pinus. 

Char.  Above,  olive  brown  or  dark  flaxen,  streaked  with  dusky ; 
wings  and  tail  black,  the  feathers  edged  with  yellow ;  wings  with  two 
butifish  bars;  below  streaked  with  dusky  and  yellowish  white.  Length 
about  4}{  inches. 

WJfj/.  Usually  in  a  deep  forest,  on  a  horizontal  branch  of  an  evergreen 
tree  20  to  40  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  fairly  well  built,  as  a  rule, 
but  is  neither  as  compact  nor  graceful  as  the  Thistle  Bird's,  and  is  com- 
posed of  various  materials,  though  generally  grass,  twigs,  and  pine-needles 
form  the  exterior,  while  the  lining  is  either  feathers  or  hair,  or  both. 

E^'^s.  3-5 ;  pale  green  or  greenish  blue  spotted  with  light  reddish 
brown  and  lilac;  0.70  X  0.50. 

Our  acquaintance  with  this  little  northern  Goldfinch  is  very 
unsatisfactory.  It  visits  the  Middle  States  in  November,  fre- 
quents the  shady,  sheltered  borders  of  creeks  and  rivulets,  and 
is  particularly  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  hemlock-tree.  Among 
the  woods,  where  these  trees  abound,  these  birds  assemble  in 
flocks,  and  contentedly  pass  away  the  winter.  Migrating  for 
no  other  purpose  but  subsistence,  their  visits  are  necessarily 
desultory  and  uncertain.  My  friend  Mr.  Oakes,  of  Ipswich, 
has  seen  them  in  large  flocks  in  that  vicinity  in  winter.  With 
us  they  are  rare,  though  their  favorite  food  is  abundant.  They 
are  by  no  means  shy,  and  permit  a  near  approach  without  tak- 
ing alarm,  often  fluttering  among  the  branches  in  which  they 
feed,  hanging  sometimes  by  the  cones,  and  occasionally  utter- 
ing notes  very  similar  to  those  of  the  American  Goldfinch. 
Early  in  March  they  proceed  to  the  North,  and  my  friend 
Audubon  observed  them  in  families,  accompanied  by  their 
young,  in  Labrador  in  the  month  of  July.  They  frequented 
low  thickets  in  the  vicinity  of  water,  and  were  extremely  fear- 
less and  gentle.  Their  summer  plumage,  as  we  have  since 
also  found  in  the  Oregon  Territory,  where  they  abound  and 
breed,  is  entirely  similar  to  the  garb  in  which  they  visit  us  in 
the  winter,  with  the  sole  exception  that  the  yellow  of  the  wings 
is  brighter. 


1 


352 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


They  sing  on  the  wing  in  the  manner  of  the  Goldfinch. 
Their  notes  are  clear,  lively,  and  mellow,  like  as  in  that  bird, 
but  still  sufficiently  distinct ;  they  fly  out  in  the  same  graceful, 
deep  curves,  emitting  also  the  common  call- note  at  every 
effort  to  proceed.  * 

The  history  of  this  interesting  bird  is  but  little  better  known  to- 
day than  when  Nuttall  wrote.  Our  ignorance  is  partly  due  to  the 
irregular,  nomadic  habits  of  the  bird,  but  chiefly  because  its  favorite 
haunts  are  in  out-of-the-way  places,  amid  the  deeper  recesses  oi  the 
forests,  where  few  observers  penetrate.  At  intervals  large  flocks 
visit  the  outskirts  of  settlements,  and  even  look  in  upon  the  vil- 
lages; but  these  are  merely  excursions  by  the  way  introduced  into 
the  migration  programme.  Its  habitat  is  now  given  as  "  North 
•America  in  general,  breeding  mostly  north  of  the  United  States." 
In  the  east,  nests  have  been  found  in  New  York  State  by  Dr.  C. 
Hart  Merriam  and  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher,  and  a  few  pairs  are  known 
to  breed  yearly  in  Massachusetts;  but  the  major  portion  of  the 
eastern  flocks  go  to  the  more  northern  portions  of  Now  England 
and  beyond  before  settling  down  for  the  summer. 

The  dates  usually  given  for  the  nesting  are  early  in  May ;  but 
a  much  earlier  time  is  given  by  Dr.  A.  Leith  Adams,  an  Eng- 
lish naturalist  who  met  with  the  species  in  New  Brunswick.  In 
his  "  Field  and  Forest  Rambles,"  he  writes  :  "  It  breeds  early,  and 
has  its  young  flying  before  the  first  summer  migrants  arrive  in 
April,  when  large  flocKs  may  be  observed  feeding  on  the  buds  of 
the  hawthorn  preparatory  to  their  departure  northward."  He  adds 
that  it  is  a  choi>.c  cage-bird,  and  is  easily  tamed.  He  kept  some 
for  several  months,  and  when  liberated  they  all  returned  to  their 
cages  after  an  absence  of  several  days. 

The  biography  of  this  species  forms  an  interesting  chapter  in 
that  interesting  book,  "The  Land  Birds  and  Game  Birds  of  New 
England,"  by  H.  D.  Minot,  —  a  book,  by  the  way,  that  has  not 
icceived  the  recognition  its  merit  deserves. 


Si    1 


GOLDFINCH. 

Carduelis  carduelis. 


t-t^ 


Char.  Forehead  and  throat  crimson ;  cheeks  and  lower  throat  white ; 
crown  and  nape  black,  the  latter  being  bordered  by  a  narrow  line  of 
white;  back  brown;  wings  black,  tipped  with  white  and  barred  with 
yellow ;  tail-coverts  white  with  black  bases ;  three  outer  tail-feathers 
black,  with  white  central  spots,  the  remainder  black,  tipped  with  white ; 
breast  white,  banded  with  brownish  buff ;  flanks  buflfy ;  belly  and  under 
tail-coverts  white.    Length  about  5  inches. 

JVest.  In  an  orchard  or  garden,  placed  in  a  fork  of  a  tree  or  bush  ;  a 
compact  and  neatly  made  structure  of  fine  grass  and  moss,  lined  with 
grass  and  plant  down,  etc. 

£g,i,''s.  4-6 ;  dull  white  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  and  streaked 
with  purplish  brown  ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  European  songster  has  been  introduced  within  recent  years, 
and  though  increasing  slowly,  appears  to  be  thoroughly  naturalized. 

It  is  most  abundant  near  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  where  a  number  were 
set  at  liberty  in  1878,  but  examples  have  been  taken  in  other  States. 
A  nest  and  eggs  were  discovered  in  Cambridge  some  ten  years 
ago,  and  during  the  summer  of  1890  a  nest  v'^<^  taken  near 
Worcester,  Mass. 

In  Great  Britain  it  is  very  common,  and  breeds  north  to  Caith- 
nf  ",s,  and  one  nest  has  been  taken  on  the  south  side  of  Skye. 

The  young  are  fed  on  insects  and  larvae ;  but  Mr.  Saunders  says 
"the  principal  food  of  the  Goldfinch  consists  of  seeds  of  the  thistle, 
knapweed,  groundsel,  dock,  and  other  plants." 

VOL.  I.  —  23 


I" 


354 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


f  I 


HOUSE   SPARROW. 

english  sparrow. 

Passer  domesticus. 

Char.  General  color  grayish  brown,  the  back  streaked  with  black ;  a 
narrow  stripe  of  white  over  the  eyes  ;  cheeks  with  patches  of  chestnut  and 
white  ;  sides  and  neck  white  ;  throat  and  breast  black,  sometimes  washed 
with  chestnut ;  wings  brown  with  white  bar ;  tail  brown  ;  belly  dull  white. 
Female :  paler,  without  the  black  throat-patch.    Length  about  6  inches. 

Nest.  Anywhere  and  of  any  material,  —  usually  a  bulky  affair,  roughly 
made  of  dry  grass  and  feathers. 

Eggs.  4-7  J  grayish  white  speckled  with  rich  brown  and  pale  lavender ; 
0.85  X  0.60. 

This  is  another  introduced  species;  but  about  its  naturalization 
there  is,  unfortunately,  no  doubt. 

Tlie  history  of  the  introduction  of  this  bird,  and  its  relation  to 
American  agriculture,  is  exhaustively  treated  in  a  volume  prepared 
by  Mr.  Walter  B.  Barrows,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  Hart 
Merriam,  ornithologist  to  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  and 
issued  from  the  Government  Printing  Office  at  Washington  in 
1889.  From  it  we  learn  that  the  first  importation  of  this  Sparrow 
was  made  by  Hon.  Nicholas  Pike,  and  the  birds  were  liberated  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1851.  The  first  batch  did  not  thrive,  so  others 
—  about  a  hundred  —  were  brought  over  during  1852  and  1853.  In 
1854  Colonel  Rhodes,  of  Quebec,  brought  a  number  from  England 
and  liberated  some  in  Portland,  Me.,  the  remainder  being  taken 
to  Quebec.  During  the  following  ten  years  a  few  hundred  were 
brought  from  Europe  and  scattered  between  Portland  and  New 
York,  some  thirty  being  turned  out  on  Boston  Common.  About 
1869  a  thousand  were  taken  to  Philadelphia,  and  several  cities  in 
the  interior  received  each  a  few  pairs. 

From  these  imported  birds  have  sprung  the  hosts  of  "ruffians  in 
feathers"  that  have  taken  possession  of  every  town  and  village, 
from  Cape  Breton  to  Florida,  and  west  to  Kansas. 

A  few  pairs  were  taken  to  southern  Greenland,  and  though  some 
lived  through  several  winters,  the  entire  flock  at  last  perished. 

Note.  —  The  European  Tree  Sparrow  {Passer  montanus) 
has  also  been  introduced.  A  few  years  ago  a  number  were  liber- 
ated in  St.  Louis,  and  have  become  thoroughly  naturalized  there. 
This  bird  is  closely  related  to  th«?  House  Sparrow,  which  it  resembles 
in  appearance  and  in  habits.  The  Tree  Sparrow  has  not,  however, 
increased  so  rapidly  as  its  congener,  nor  proved  so  great  a  pest. 


'O'l 


i 


It 

('■'  i 
'i:  .  ! 


REDPOLL. 

LESSER   REDPOLL.     REDPOLL  LINNET. 
ACANTHIS   LINARIA. 

Char.  Above,  brownish  gray  streaked  with  dusky;  rump  white, 
tinged  with  rose  pink  and  streaked  with  dusky ;  forehead  with  patch  of 
deep  carmine ;  wings  dusky  brown  with  two  white  bars ;  below,  white, 
sides  heavily  streaked  with  dusky ;  chin  and  throat  dusky ;  breast  deep 
rose  pink.  Bill  extremely  acute  ;  in  winter  its  color  is  yellow  tipped  with. 
black,  but  in  summer  the  color  is  dull  blackish.  (Female  differs  from 
male  only  in  lacking  the  red  tints  on  rump  and  breast.)  Length  4>^  to  5 
inches. 

JVes'  In  a  low  tree  or  amid  a  tuft  of  grass ;  composed  of  dry  grass  and 
mos^  .ined  with  hair  or  feathers  or  plant  down. 

-fi'^^f'j.  4-6;  white  tinged  with  green  or  blue,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

These  elegant  birds,  which  only  pay  us  occasional  and 
transient  visits  at  distant  intervals,  are  inhabitants  of  the  whole 
Arctic  circle  to  the  confines  of  Siberia,  and  are  found  in  Kam- 
tschatka  and  Greenland  as  well  as  the  colder  parts  of  Europe. 
Arriving  in  loving  flocks  from  the  northern  wilds  of  Canada, 
they  are  seen  at  times  in  the  western  parts  of  the  State  of  New 
York  with  the  fall  of  the  first  deep  snow,  and  occasionally  pro- 
ceed eastward  to  the  very  city  of  New  York,  where  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  and  for  several  weeks,  they  have  been  seen 
gleaning  their  scanty  food  of  various  kinds  of  seeds  in  the 
gardens  of  the  town  and  suburbs.  Flocks  are  likewise  some- 
times seen  in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  in  severe  winters, 
though  at  remote  periods ;  as  according  to  Mr.  Ord  they  have 
not   visited   that   part   of  Pennsylvania   since   the   winter  of 


I:    !■ 


1'    I 


'   i  I 


ir 


i" 


356 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


1813-14.  They  appear  very  unsuspicious  while  feeding  in  the 
gardens,  or  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder-bush,  one  of  their  favor- 
ite repasts,  and  thus  engaged  allow  a  near  approach  while 
searching  for  their  food  in  every  posture,  and  sometimes  head 
downwards.  They  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  the 
linden,  and  rape,  and  in  the  winter  sometimes  content  them- 
selves even  with  the  buds  of  the  alder.  Wilson  believed  he 
heard  this  species  utter  a  few  interrupted  notes,  but  nothing 
satisfactory  is  known  of  its  vocal  powers.  Mr.  Ord  remarks 
that  their  call  much  resembles  that  of  the  common  Yellow 
Bird,  to  which,  indeed,  they  are  allied.  They  are  said  to 
breed  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  to  select  the  heath 
and  furze  for  the  situation  of  their  nests,  though  they  more 
commonly  choose  alder-bushes  and  the  branches  of  the  pine. 

According  to  Richardson,  these  birds  are  among  the  few 
hardy  and  permanent  residents  in  the  fur  countries,  where  they 
may  be  seen  in  the  coldest  weather  on  the  banks  of  lakes  and 
rivers,  hopping  among  the  reeds  and  carices  or  clinging  to  their 
stalks.  They  are  numerous  throughout  the  year  even  in  the 
most  northern  districts,  and  from  the  rarity  of  their  migrations 
into  the  United  States  it  is  obvious  that  they  are  influenced  by 
no  ordinary  causes  to  evacuate  the  regions  in  which  they  are 
bred.  Famine,  in  all  probability,  or  the  scarcity  of  food,  urges 
them  to  advance  towards  the  South.  It  is  certain  that  they  do 
not  forsake  their  natal  regions  to  seek  shelter  from  the  cold. 
This  season,  by  the  7th  or  8th  of  November  (1833),  before 
the  occurrence  of  any  extraordinary  cold  weather,  they  arrived 
in  this  vicinity  (Cambridge,  Mass.)  in  considerable  flocks,  and 
hiive  not  paid  a  visit  to  this  quarter  before  to  my  knowledge 
for  10  or  12  years.  They  now  regularly  assemble  in  the  birch- 
trees  every  morning  to  feed  on  their  seeds,  in  which  employ- 
ment they  are  so  intent  that  it  is  possible  to  advance  to  the 
slender  trees  in  which  they  are  engaged  and  shake  them  off"  by 
surprise  before  they  think  of  taking  wing.  They  hang  upon 
the  twigs  with  great  tenacity,  and  move  about  while  feeding  in 
reversed  postures,  like  the  Chickadees.  After  being  shot  at 
they  only  pass  on  to  the  next  tree  and  resume  their  feeding  as 


REDPOLL. 


357 


before.  They  have  a  quailing  call  perfectly  similar  to  that 
of  the  Yellow  Bird  {Fringiila  tristis)^  twee  twee,  or  tshe-vee ; 
and  when  crowding  together  in  flight  make  a  confused  chirp- 
ing 'twit  'itwit  'twit  ^twit  'twit,  with  a  rattling  noise,  and  some- 
times go  off  with  a  simultaneous  twitter.  Occasionally  they 
descend  from  their  favorite  birches  and  pick  up  sunflower 
seeds  and  those  of  the  various  weedy  Chenopodiums  growing 
in  wastes.  At  length  they  seemed  attracted  to  the  pines  by 
the  example  of  the  Crossbills,  and  were  busily  employed  in 
collecting  their  seeds.  As  the  weather  becomes  colder  they 
also  roost  in  these  sheltering  evergreens ;  and  confused  flocks 
are  seen  whirling  about  capriciously  in  quest  of  fare,  sometimes 
descending  on  the  fruit-trees  to  feed  on  their  buds  by  way  of 
variety.  Though  thus  urged  from  their  favorite  regions  in  the 
north,  there  appeared  no  obvious  reason  for  their  movements, 
as  we  found  them  fat  and  not  driven  to  migrate  from  any 
imminent  necessity. 

In  Nuttall's  day  but  two  forms  of  Redpoll  were  recognized  by 
naturalists,  —  linaria  and  canescens  (=  exilipes)  ;  but  now  there 
are  five,  — or  six,  if  we  count  the  hypothetical  brewsterii.  Similar 
as  these  appear  to  the  casual  observer,  an  expert  can  readily  divide 
them  when  examples  of  the  different  races  are  compared,  though  it 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  refer  a  specimen  with  accuracy  unless  so 
compared. 

The  habitat  of  true  linaria  is  now  given  as  *'  northern  portions 
of  northern  hemisphere,  excepting  Greenland,  in  North  America ; 
migrating  south  in  winter  to  about  40°." 


!r^ 


I 

i  .  1 


Note.  —  Holbcell's  Redpoll  {Acanthis  linhria  holbcellii)  is 
larger  than  the  type,  —  length  5  to  5^  inches, — with  a  propor- 
tionately larger  bill.  It  is  usually  restricted  to  the  northern  coasts 
of  Europe  and  Asia,  but  examples  have  been  taken  in  Alaska  and 
at  Quebec. 

The  Greater  Redpoll  (^Acanthis  linaria  rostrata)  is  still 
larger,  —  length  5  ^  to  5  %"  inches,  —  and  the  colors  are  darker,  with 
the  under  parts  more  broadly  striped.  It  is  found  in  southern 
Greenland  in  summer,  and  in  winter  migrates  sparingly  south  to 
New  England,  and  west  to  Manitoba  and  northern  Illinois. 


'•*.  ' 


\  \ 


l\ 


:i\ 


I 


HOARY   REDPOLL. 

MEALY   REDPOLL. 
ACANTHIS   HORNEMANII   EXILIPES. 

Char.  Above,  dull  white  or  pale  brownish  white,  streaked  with  dusky 
brown  ;  rump  white  unstreaked,  —  in  the  male  usually  washed  with  pink ; 
wings  dusky  brown  with  two  white  bars ;  below,  dull  white  sparsely 
streaked  with  dusky ;  chin  and  throat  dusky ;  breast  delicate  rose  pink. 
Length  ^Yz  to  e  inches. 

Similar  to  A.  Imaria,  but  colors  paler,  — the  brown  largely  replaced  by 
gray,  and  the  red  of  a  paler  shade  and  more  restricted. 

Nest  In  a  low  tree  or  on  the  ground ;  composed  of  grass  and  twigs 
lined  with  feathers. 

Egi^s.  3-5 ;  white  tinged  with  blue  or  green,  spotted  with  reddish 
brown  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  last,  is  met  with  partly 
in  the  same  remote  boreal  regions  in  the  summer,  but  is  of 
much  more  rare  occurrence  ;  it  is  also  found  in  the  territory 
of  Oregon,  and  stragglers  have  been  obtained  as  far  south  as 
New  Jersey  and  New  York.  In  Maine  it  is  less  rare.  These 
birds  have  a  note  very  similar  to  the  last  species,  but  distinct. 
They  are  full  of  activity  and  caprice  while  engaged  in  feeding, 
making  wide  circles  and  deep  undulations  in  their  flight.    Like 


i 


TOWHEE. 


359 


Titmice  also,  they  frequently  feed  and  hang  to  the  twigs  in 
reversed  postures. 

This  form  summers  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  in  winter  migrates 
southward,  a  fe/  examples  reaching  the  norther,  border  of  the 
United  States.  

Note.  —  The  Greenland  Redpoll  {Acanthis  hornemannii) 
is  larger  than  exilipes^  —  length  5>^  to  dyi  inches.  It  breeds  in 
Greenland  and  the  eastern  part  of  Arctic  America,  and  in  winter 
ranges  as  far  south  as  Labrador. 

Brewster's  Linnet  {Acanthis  breivsterii)  is  a  "Redpoll" 
without  any  red  on  its  poll ;  it  differs  also  from  the  other  forms  in 
lacking  the  dusky  spot  on  the  throat  and  in  having  a  portion  of  its 
plumage  tinged  with  yellow.  The  type  specimen  was  taken  at 
Waltham,  Mass.,  in  1870,  and  remains  unique.  The  A.  O.  U.  have 
placed  the  name  in  that  "lock-up"  for  suspicious  characters,  the 
"  hypothetical  list." 


, 


TOWHEE. 

GROUND  ROBIN.    CHEWINK. 
PiPILO   ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 

Char.  Black  with  white  belly  and  bay  sides  and  vent ;  outer  tail- 
feathers  partly  white  ;  white  spot  on  wing ;  iris  red.  Female  and  young 
tawny  brown  where  the  adult  male  is  black. 

Nest.  Near  the  margin  of  woodland  or  in  an  overgrown  pasture ; 
usually  placed  on  the  ground  and  concealed  in  a  tuft  of  grass  or  brush- 
heap,  or  under  a  log  or  bush,  —  sometimes  fastened  to  a  low  bush ;  loosely 
made  of  dry  leaves,  grape-vines,  weed-stems,  and  grass,  lined  with  fine 
grass,  roots,  or  pine-needles. 

Eggs.  4-6;  dull  white  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of  warm,  reddish 
brown  and  lilac;  sometimes  the  marks  are  bolder  ;  0.95  X  0.75 

This  is  a  very  common,  humble,  and  unsuspicious  bird, 
dwelling  commonly  in  thick  dark  woods  and  their  borders, 
flying  low,  and  frequenting  thickets  near  st'-eams  of  water, 
where  it  spends  much  time  in  scratching  up  the  withered 
leaves  for  worms  and  their  larvae,  and  is  particularly  fond  of 
wire-worms  (or  /////),  as  well  as  various  kinds  of  seeds  and 
gravel.  Its  rustling  scratch  among  the  leafy  carpet  of  the 
forest  is  often  the  only  indication  of  its  presence,  excepting 


1  i 

I 

I 


360 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


now  and  then  a  call  upon  its  mate  {ioiu-wee,  tow-wee ^  tow- 
weet),  with  which  it  is  almost  constantly  associated.  While 
thus  busily  engaged  in  foraging  for  subsistence,  it  may  be 
watched  and  approached  without  showing  any  alarm ;  and 
taking  a  look  often  at  the  observer,  without  suspicion,  it 
scratches  up  the  leaves  as  before.  This  call  of  recognition  is 
uttered  in  a  low  and  somewhat  sad  tone,  and  if  not  soon 
answered  it  becomes  louder  and  interrogatory,  tow-wee  towee  ? 
and  terminates  often  with  toweet.  These  birds  are  accused 
of  sometimes  visiting  the  pea-fields  to  feed,  but  occasion  no 
sensible  damage. 

In  the  pairing  season  and  throughout  the  period  of  incuba- 
tion the  male  frequently  mounts  to  the  top  of  some  bush 
amidst  the  thickets  where  he  usually  passes  the  time,  and  from 
hence  in  a  clear  and  sonorous  voice  chants  forth  his  simple 
guttural  and  monotonous  notes  for  an  hour  or  so  at  a  time, 
while  his  faithful  mate  is  confined  to  her  nest.  This  quaint 
and  somewhat  pensive  song  often  sounds  like  fsh\i  wit^e  te  tc 
te  te  te,  or  ^Ind-iui  tee,  tr  tr  Ur  7/*,  —  the  latter  part  a  sort  of 
quaint  and  deliberate  quivering  trill  \  sometimes  it  sounds  like 
^bhi  tsherr  ^rh  ^rh,  rrh  ^wt,  then  ^fwee  twee  /'  tsher'  r'r,  also 
et  se  ya,  ya  ^ya  ^ya  ^ya  ^ya  ;  the  latter  notes,  attempted  to  be 
expressed  by  whistled  and  contracted  consonant  syllables,  are 
trilled  with  this  sound. 

Ground  Robins,  sometimes  also  called  Tshe-wink  and  Pee- 
wink,  from  another  of  their  notes,  are  general  inhabitants  of 
Canada  and  the  United  States  even  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  the  peninsula  of  Florida,  in  all  of  which  regions, 
except  the  last,  with  Louisiana  and  the  contiguous  countries, 
they  pass  the  summer  and  rear  their  young,  migrating,  how- 
ever, from  the  Northern  and  Middle  States  in  October,  and 
returning  again  about  the  middle  or  close  of  April,  according 
to  the  advancement  of  the  season,  at  which  time  also  the 
males  usually  precede  the  arrival  of  their  mates.  They  pass 
the  winter  generally  to  the  south  of  Pennsylvania,  and  are  then 
very  abundant  in  all  the  milder  States  in  the  Union. 

They  are  said  to  show  some  address  at  times  in  concealing 


II 


TOWHEE. 


361 


their  nest,  which  is  fixed  on  the  ground  in  a  dry  and  elevated 
situation  and  sunk  beneath  the  surface  among  the  fallen  leaves, 
sometimes  under  the  shelter  of  a  small  bush,  thicket,  or  brier. 
According  to  the  convenience  of  the  site,  it  is  formed  of  differ- 
ent materials,  sometimes,  according  to  Wilson,  being  made  of 
leaves,  strips  of  grape-vine  bark,  lined  with  fine  stalks  of  dry 
grass,  and  occasionally  in  part  hidden  with  hay  or  herbage. 
Most  of  the  nests  in  this  vicinity  are  made  in  solitary  dry  pine 
woods  without  any  other  protection  than  some  small  bush  or 
accidental  fallen  leaves;  and  the  external  materials,  rather 
substantial,  are  usually  slightly  agglutinated  strips  of  red -cedar 
bark,  or  withered  grass  with  a  neat  lining  of  the  same  and 
fallen  pine  leaves ;  the  lining  sometimes  made  wholly  of  the 
latter.  The  nest  is  also  at  times  elevated  from  the  ground  by 
a  layer  of  coarse  leaf-stalks  such  as  those  of  the  hickory.  The 
first  brood  are  raised  early  in  June,  and  a  second  is  often 
observed  in  the  month  of  July ;  but  in  this  part  of  New  Eng- 
land they  seldom  raise  more  than  one.  The  pair  show  great 
solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  young,  fluttering  in  the  path 
and  pretending  lameness  with  loud  chirping  when  their  nest  is 
too  closely  examined. 

The  eastern  form  of  the  Towhee  is  not  found  west  of  Minnesota, 
Kansas,  and  Texas.  In  the  more  northern  and  unsettled  portions 
of  New  England  it  is  very  rare  or  absent.  It  is  common  in  Man- 
itoba and  southern  Ontario,  but  rare  in  Quebec ;  and  one  example, 
captured  near  St.  John,  N.  B.,  in  1881,  is  the  only  known  instance 
of  its  occurrence  in  the  Maritime  Provinces. 


Note.  —  The  White-eyed  Towhee  {Pipilo  erythrophthalmus 
alleni)  differs  from  the  northern  race  chiefly  in  being  of  somewhat 
smaller  size,  and  in  the  iris  being  white  instead  of  red. 

It  was  discovered  during  the  spring  of  1879  by  Mr.  C.  J.  May- 
nard  in  Florida,  to  which  State  it  is  restricted. 


\i '  \ ' 


■  ! 


!  I! 


1 


I 


CARDINAL. 

REDBIRD. 
CaRDINALIS   C4RDIN«.LIS. 

Char.  Head  with  conspicuous  crest.  Male:  above,  bright  vemr- 
lion,  shaded  with  gray  on  the  back ;  beneath,  paler ;  forehead  and  throat 
black.  Female:  above,  olive  gray;  beneath,  buflfy.  Young  similar  to 
female,  but  duller.    Length  about  8  to  8^  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  variety  of  situations,  most  frequently  amid  a  thicket  of 
brambles  or  in  a  low  tree ;  loosely  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  grape-vine, 
dry  grass,  weed-stems,  lined  with  fine  grass  or  roots,  sometimes  with 
hair. 

Eggs.  3-s;  dull  white  or  tinged  with  blue,  green,  or  buff;  spotted 
with  reddish  brown  and  lilac;  i.oo  X  0.75. 

These  splendid  and  not  uncommon  songsters  chiefly  reside 
in  the  warmer  and  more  temperate  parts  of  the  United  States 
from  New  York  to  Florida,  and  a  few  stragglers  even  proceed 
as  far  to  the  north  as  Salem  in  Massachusetts.  They  also 
inhabit  the  Mexican  provinces,  and  are  met  with  south  as  far 
as  Carthagena ;  adventurously  crossing  the  intervening  ocean, 
they  are  likewise  numerous  in  the  little  temperate  Bermuda 
islands,  but  do  not  apparently  exist  in  any  of  the  West  Indies. 
As  might  be  supposed,  from  the  range  already  stated,  the  Red- 
birds  are  not  uncommon  throughout  Louisiana,  Missouri,  and 
Arkansas  Territory.     Most  of  those  which  pass  the  summer  in 


CARDINAL. 


363 


the  cooler  and  Middle  States  retire  to  the  South  at  the  com- 
mencement of  winter ;  though  a  few  linger  in  the  sheltered 
swamps  of  Pennsylvania  and  near  the  shores  of  the  Delaware 
almost  through  the  winter.  They  also,  at  this  season,  probably 
assemble  towards  the  sea-coast  from  the  west,  in  most  of  the 
Southern  States,  where  roving  and  skulking  timid  families  are 
now  seen  flitting  silently  through  thickets  and  swampy  woods, 
eager  alone  to  glean  a  scanty  subsistence,  and  defend  them- 
selves from  prowling  enemies.  At  all  times,  however,  they 
appear  to  have  a  predilection  for  watery  groves  and  shaded 
running  streams,  abounding  with  evergreens  and  fragrant  mag- 
nolias, in  which  they  are  so  frequent  as  to  be  almost  concomi- 
tant with  the  scene.  But  though  they  usually  live  only  in 
families  or  pairs,  and  at  all  times  disperse  into  these  selective 
groups,  yet  in  severe  weather,  at  sunset,  in  South  Carolina,  I 
observed  a  flock  passing  to  a  roost  in  a  neighboring  swamp 
and  bushy  lagoon,  which  continued,  in  lengthened  file,  to  fly 
over  my  head  at  a  considerable  height  for  more  than  twenty 
minutes  together.  The  beautiful  procession,  illumined  by  the 
last  rays  of  the  setting  sun,  was  incomparably  splendid  as  the 
shifting  shadowy  light  at  quick  intervals  flashed  upon  their 
brilliant  livery.  They  had  been  observed  to  pass  in  this  man- 
ner to  their  roost  for  a  considerable  time,  and,  at  daybreak, 
they  were  seen  again  to  proceed  and  disperse  for  subsistence. 
How  long  this  timid  and  gregarious  habit  continues,  I  cannot 
pretend  to  say ;  but  by  the  first  week  in  February  the  song  of 
the  Redbird  was  almost  daily  heard.  As  the  season  advances, 
roving  pairs,  living,  as  it  were,  only  with  and  for  each  other,  flit 
from  place  to  place  ;  and  following  also  their  favorite  insect  or 
vegetable  fare,  many  proceed  back  to  the  same  cool  region  in 
which  they  were  bred,  and  from  which  they  were  reluctantly 
driven  :  while  others,  impelled  by  interest,  caprice,  and  adven- 
ture, seek  to  establish  new  families  in  the  most  remote  limits  of 
their  migration.  Some  of  these  more  restless  wanderers  occa- 
sionally, though  rarely,  favor  this  part  of  New  England  with  a 
visit.  After  listening  witix  so  much  delight  to  the  lively  fife  of 
the  splendid  Cardinal,  as  I  travelled  alone  through  the  deep  and 


I 


ili 


II 


364 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


wild  solitudes  which  prevail  over  the  Southern  States,  and  bid, 
as  I  thought,  perhaps  an  eternal  adieu  to  the  sweet  voice  of  my 
charming  companions,  what  was  my  surprise  and  pleasure,  on 
the  7th  of  May,  to  hear,  for  the  first  time  in  this  State,  and  in 
the  Botanic  Garden,  above  an  hour  together,  the  lively  and 
loud  song  of  this  exquisite  vocalist,  whose  voice  rose  above 
every  rival  of  the  feathered  race,  and  rung  almost  in  echoes 
through  the  blooming  grove  in  which  he  had  chosen  his  re- 
treat. In  the  Southern  States,  where  these  birds  everywhere 
breed,  they  become  familiarly  attached  to  gardens,  which,  as 
well  as  cornfields,  afford  them  a  ready  means  of  subsistence ; 
they  are  also  fond  of  the  seeds  of  most  of  the  orchard  fruits, 
and  are  said  occasionally  to  prey  upon  bees. 

The  lay  of  the  Cardinal  is  a  loud,  mellow,  and  pleasingly 
varied  whistle,  delivered  with  ease  and  energy  for  a  consider- 
able time  together.  To  give  it  full  effect,  he  chooses  the  sum- 
mit of  some  lofty  branch,  and  elevating  his  melodious  voice  in 
powerful  as  well  as  soothing  and  touching  tones,  he  listens, 
delighted  as  it  were,  with  the  powers  of  his  own  music,  at 
intervals  answered  and  encouraged  by  the  tender  responses  of 
his  mate.  It  is  thus  the  gilded  hours  of  his  existence  pass 
away  in  primeval  delight,  until  care  and  necessity  break  in 
upon  his  contemplative  reveries,  and  urge  him  again  to  pursue 
the  sober  walks  of  active  life. 

The  song  of  the  Redbird,  like  that  of  so  many  others, 
though  possessed  of  great  originality,  often  consists  in  part  of 
favorite  borrowed  and  slightly  altered  phrases.  It  would  be 
a  difficult  and  fruitless  task  to  enumerate  Jl  the  native  notes 
delivered  by  this  interesting  songster ;  a  few  may  be  perhaps 
excused  by  those  who  wish,  in  their  rural  walks,  to  be  made,  in 
any  way,  acquainted  with  the  language  of  the  feathered  vocal- 
ists that  surround  them.  All  the  tones  of  the  Cardinal  are 
whistled  much  in  the  manner  of  the  human  voice.  Late  in 
February,  while  travelling  in  Alabama,  I  heard  one  crying 
woolit,  ivolit  wolit  wolit,  then  in  a  quicker  tone  btitsh  biitsh 
biitsh  biitsh^  and  Ushoo7vay  tshooway  tshooway.  At  another 
time  the  song  was  ^wit  d'wUy  ^(eu;  then  ishevi  tshevc  ^fcii, 


lit 


others, 
)art  of 
nld  be 
notes 
erhaps 
ide,  in 
vocal- 
al  are 
ate  in 
crying 
butsh 
nother 


CARDINAL. 


365 


\vhoit  'whoit  'whoit  ^feu  (the  ^whoit  an  exact  human  whistle, 
and  the  (eu  tenderly  emphatic).  Another  bird  called  tco  tvo 
teOy  tshooe  tshooe  tshooe  tshooe^  then  teo  teo  teo  teo  alone,  or 
*wdit  ^woit  'wait  'looit^  with  the  last  word  delivered  slower,  and 
in  a  sinking,  delicately  plaintive  tone.  These  phrases  were 
also  answered  in  sympathy  by  the  female,  at  a  little  distance 
up  the  meandering  brook  where  they  were  engaged  in  collect- 
ing their  food.  In  Florida,  about  the  12th  of  March,  I  heard 
a  very  fine  Redbird  singing  'wfiittoo  wittoo  widoo  'widdoo. 
He  began  low,  almost  in  a  whisper,  but  very  clearly  articu- 
lated, and  gradually  raised  his  voice  to  loudness,  in  the  manner 
of  the  Nightingale.  He  now  changed  the  strain  into  'victUy 
wilt  wilt  wilt  wilt ;  then  ^victu  tshooe  ^tshooe  tshooe  tshooe ^ 
afterwards  ///  tu  ^victu,  and  'victu  tu  tiiy  then  varying  ^tshooee, 
etc.,  in  a  lower  key.  On  approaching  this  bird,  to  see  and 
hear  him  more  distinctly,  he  exhibited  his  anger  by  scolding  in 
a  hoarse  tone  almost  like  that  of  a  squirrel,  and  from  the  sea- 
son, and  absence  of  respondence  in  the  female,  I  imagine  he 
already  had  a  nest  in  the  neighboring  thicket.  The  bird,  which 
frequented  the  Botanic  Garden  for  several  days,  in  the  morn- 
ing sang  fearlessly  and  loudly,  but  at  other  times  the  pair  hid 
themselves  amongst  the  thickest  bushes,  or  descended  to  the 
ground  to  feed  among  the  grass  and  collect  insects  and  worms ; 
now  and  then  however,  in  an  undertone,  as  if  afraid  of  attract- 
ing notice,  he  whispered  to  his  mate  ten  teu  feii,  woit,  ^woit 
^woity  elevating  his  tone  of  recognition  a  little  at  the  close  of 
the  call,  and  going  over  other  of  the  usual  phrases  in  the  same 
whispering  and  slenderly  rising  voice.  About  the  4th  of  July, 
the  same  pair,  apparently,  paid  us  a  parting  visit,  and  the  male 
sang  with  great  energy,  '/^'  t2u\  ^weto  ^weto  ^weto  ^weto  ^weto 
wait,  then  waittip  wditiip  waitup  wdiiiip,  tshow  tshotv  tshow 
tshow  tshow.  On  whistling  any  of  these  notes  within  hearing 
of  the  Cardinal,  a  response  is  almost  certain,  as  this  aftectionate 
recognition  is  frequently  answered  by  the  female.  His  phrase 
may  also  be  altered  at  will,  by  whistling  some  other  than  that 
which  he  repeats,  as  he  often  immediately  answers  in  the  call 
he  hears,  supposing  it  to  be  that  of  his  approaching  mate. 


(      ! 


\\ 


366 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


i! 


^€ 


On  their  arrival  in  the  Middle  States,  in  spring,  violent  con- 
tests sometimes  ensue  between  the  unmated  and  jealous  males. 
Wh'jn  the  dispute  is  for  the  present  closed,  the  pair,  probably 
for  greater  security,  and  dreading  a  recurring  quarrel  of  doubt- 
ful issue,  wander  off  to  a  remote  distance  from  their  usual 
abode,  and  in  this  way,  no  doubt,  occasionally  visit  countries 
but  little  frequented  by  the  rest  of  their  species.  Early  in 
May,  it  seems,  in  Pennsylvania,  according  to  Wilson,  they 
begin  to  prepare  their  nests,  which  are  often  placed  in  an  ever- 
green bush,  cedar,  laurel,  or  holly.  They  usually  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season.  As  they  are  so  easily  domesticated  im- 
mediately after  being  caught  in  trap  cages,  it  is  unnecessary  to 
raise  them  from  the  nest.  By  this  kmd  of  unnatural  confine- 
ment, the  brilliant  color  of  the  male  is  found  sometimes  to 
fade  until  it  becomes  of  a  pale  whitish  red.  They  live,  how- 
ever, long  in  confinement  and  an  instance  is  known  of  one 
which  had  survived  for  21  years.  In  the  cage,  they  have  not 
that  variety  of  song  which  they  exhibit  in  their  native  wilds ; 
and  this,  judging  from  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  same 
phrase,  would  appear  to  be  a  monotonous  performance,  if  the 
variety  of  expression,  tone,  and  key  did  not  perpetually  relieve 
and  enhance  the  character  of  the  lay.  His  song  also  con- 
tinues for  6  or  8  months  in  the  year,  and  is,  even,  as  among 
the  Thrushes,  more  lively  in  ^et  weather,  the  sadness  of 
Nature,  softening  and  soothing  the  tender  vocalist  into  a  lively, 
pathetic,  and  harmonious  revery.  So  highly  were  these  birds 
esteemed  for  their  melody  that,  according  to  Gemelli  Careri, 
the  Spaniards  of  Havanna,  in  a  time  of  public  distress  and 
scarcity,  bought  so  many  of  these  birds,  with  which  a  vessel 
was  partly  freighted,  from  Florida,  that  the  sum  expended,  at 
10  dollars  apiece,  amounted  to  no  less  than  18,000  dollars! 
Indeed,  Latham  admits  that  the  notes  of  our  Cardinal  "are 
almost  equal  to  those  of  the  Nightingale,"  the  sweetest  feath- 
ered minstrel  of  F^urope.  The  style  of  their  performance  is, 
however,  wholly  different.  The  bold,  martial  strains  of  the 
Redbird,  though  relieved  by  tender  and  exquisite  touches, 
possess  not  the  enchanting  pathos,  the  elevated  and  varied 


EVENING  GROSBEAK. 


367 


expression  of  the  far-famed  Philomel,  nor  yet  those  contrasted 
tones,  which,  in  the  solemn  stillness  of  the  growing  night,  fall 
at  times  into  a  soothing  whisper,  or  slowly  rise  and  quicken 
into  a  loud  and  cheering  warble.  A  strain  of  almost  senti- 
mental tenderness  and  sadness  pervades  by  turns  the  song  of 
the  Nightingale ;  it  flows  like  a  torrent,  or  dies  away  like  an 
echo ;  his  varied  ecstasies  poured  to  the  pale  moonbeams, 
now  meet  with  no  response  but  the  sighing  zephyr  or  the  ever- 
murmuring  brook.  The  notes  of  our  Cardinal  are  as  full  of 
hilarity  as  of  tender  expression ;  his  whistling  call  is  uttered  in 
the  broad  glare  of  day,  and  is  heard  predominant  over  most  of 
the  feathered  ch-^ir  by  which  he  is  surrounded.  His  respond- 
ing mate  is  the  perpetual  companion  of  all  his  joys  and  cares ; 
simple  and  content  in  his  attachment,  he  is  a  stranger  to 
capricious  romance  of  feeling,  and  the  shades  of  melancholy, 
however  feeble  and  transient,  find  no  harbor  in  his  preoc- 
cupied affections. 

The  Cardinal  occurs  regularly  but  sparingly  in  southern  New 
England,  and  it  has  been  occasionally  seen  in  Massachusetts  and 
northward.  Two  examples  -islted  Halifax,  N.  S,  in  1871.  It  is 
quite  common  in  Ohio,  and  has  been  taken,  across  the  lake,  in 
Ontario. 


<!  1 

i 

ij 


EVENING    GROSBEAK. 

COCCOIHRAUSTES   VESPERTINA. 

Char.  Dusky  olivaceous,  shading  to  yellowish  on  the  rump ;  fore- 
head, line  over  the  eyes,  and  under  tail-coverts,  yellow ;  crown,  wings, 
and  tail  black  ;  secondaries  mostly  white ;  bill  greenish  yellow,  conspicu- 
ously large.  Female  differs  slightly  from  the  male,  but  is  readily  identi- 
fied.    Length  about  7^  to  8  inches. 

A^est.  In  the  deep  forest,  usually  on  a  branch  of  a  tall  tree,  sometimes 
in  low  bush;  composed  of  twigs  and  roots,  lined  with  roots  or  hair. 

E^li^s.    4-?  ;  pale  dull  green,  marked  with  pale  brown  spots. 

This  beautiful  species  inhabits  the  solitudes  of  the  North- 
western interior,  bfing  met  with  from  the  extremity  of  the 
Michigan  Territory  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  not  un- 
common towards  the  upper  extremity  of  Lake  Superior  and 


ili 


368 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


the  borders  of  Athabasca  Lake ;  to  the  east  of  these  Umits 
these  birds  appear  to  be  only  transient  visitors  in  spring  ant', 
fall.  They  are  common  inhabitants  of  the  fur  countries,  and 
particularly  of  the  maple  woods  of  the  Saskatchewan,  where 
they  do  not  arrive  from  the  South  before  the  commencement 
of  the  month  of  June.  In  the  pine  woods  of  Oregon  (accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Townsend)  numerous  flocks  are  seen  about  the  mid- 
dle of  May,  and  at  this  time  they  are  very  tame  and  unsuspicious, 
moving  about  in  considerable  numbers  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  day,  and  seem  no  way  given  to  retiring  before  sunset. 
Their  ordinary  note  while  feeding  consists  of  a  single  rather 
screaming  call.  At  other  times,  particularly  about  mid-day,  the 
male  from  the  branches  of  some  tall  pine-tree  utters  a  single 
warbling  note  much  like  the  interrupted  beginning  of  the 
Robin's  song,  but  not  so  sweet.  They  feed  upon  the  seeds 
of  the  pine  and  other  trees,  alighting  upon  the  large  limbs, 
and  proceed  by  a  series  of  hops  to  the  very  extremities  of 
the  branches.  They  also  occasionally  devour  the  larvae  of  ants, 
and  probably  other  kinds  of  insects. 

The  Evening  Grosbeak  occurs  regularly  in  winter  in  Wisconsin, 
Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Michigan,  and  occasionally  in  Ohio  and  Ontario, 
During  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of  1889-90  numbers  were 
seen  eastward  to  Montreal  and  the  New  England  States. 

Its  nesting  habits  are  almost  unknown. 


-   ' 


the 


ROSE-BREASTED   GROSBEAK. 
Habia  ludoviciana. 

Char.  Male :  above,  black ;  rump  white ;  wings  and  tail  black  with 
white  markings ;  below,  white ;  breast  and  under  tail-coverts  deep  rose 
]Mnk.  Female :  above,  s*^reaked  blackish  and  olive  ;  crown  with  central 
stripe  of  white  ;  rump  white  ;  under  parts  dull  white,  streaked  with  brown ; 
no  red  on  the  breast.     Length  7^  to  8^4  inches. 

N'est.  Usually  on  the  margin  of  woods,  or  in  a  dense  alder-swamp,  — 
occasionally  in  a  garden  or  open  pasture;  composed  of  grass,  wj/zm  moss, 
roots,  stalks,  and  twigs,  lined  with  fine  grass,  roots,  or  pine-needles. 

■^W-f-  3-5;  <1"11  green  or  bluish  green  variously  marked  with  spots 
and  blotches  of  reddish  brown,  lilac,  and  pale  lavender;  i.oo  X  0.70. 

The  remote  Northwestern  Territories  of  the  Union,  Canada, 
and  the  cool  regions  towards  the  Rocky  Mountains  appear  to 
be  the  general  residence  of  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak.  A 
few  pairs  breed  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  and  probably 
in  the  interior  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Say  met  with  it  .in  the 
spring,  on  the  lower  part  of  the  Missouri ;  and  at  Pembino,  on 
the  5th  of  August,  in  the  49th  parallel.  Dr.  Richardson  also 
observed  it  in  the  latitude  of  53°,  and  Audubon  found  it  breed- 
ing in  Newfoundland.  It  has  likewise  been  seen  in  Mexico 
and  Texas.  These  are,  no  doubt,  its  proper  natal  regions,  and 
the  course  of  its  migrations,  from  which  it  only  ventures  acci- 
dentally in  severe  winters,  and  is  then  transiently  seen  in  pairs 
cast  of  the  Atlantic  mountains,  which  constitute  the  general 
boundary  of  its  range.     It  is  thus  seen  occasionally  in  the 

Vf)I,.   I.  —  24 


^1     I 


I; 


11  . 

i 
ll 


m 


j 


f 


I'    i 


lp     It 


370 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  particularly 
along  the  borders  of  Lake  Ontario,  and  in  Connecticut,  but 
rarely  in  this  part  of  New  England.  Pennant  speaks  of  its 
arrival  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  May,  where  it  has  a  nest  of 
5  eggs,  and  then  retires  in  August.  It  is  also  unknown  in  the 
Southern  States. 

My  friend  Mr.  Cooper  remarks  that  though  this  species  is 
rare  in  the  vicinity  of  New  York,  a  few  probably  breed  in  the 
woods  of  the  Hudson,  as  at  Tappan,  30  miles  up  that  river,  it 
is  frequently  seen  in  the  cherry-trees  in  the  month  of  June, 
and  is  said  to  be  common  in  the  forests  along  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  and  usually  breeds  there.  It  thrives  very  well 
in  a  cage,  is  a  most  melodious  and  indefatigable  warbler,  fre- 
quently in  fine  weather,  as  in  its  state  of  freedom,  passing  a 
great  part  of  the  night  in  singing,  with  all  the  varied  and  touch- 
ing tones  of  the  Nightingale. 

While  thus  earnestly  engaged,  it  seems  to  mount  on  tiptoe 
in  an  ecstasy  of  enthusiasm  and  delight  at  the  unrivalled  har- 
mony of  its  own  voice.  The  notes  are  wholly  warbled,  now 
loud,  clear,  and  vaulting  with  a  querulous  air ;  then  perhaps 
sprightly ;  and  finally  lower,  tender,  and  pathetic.  In  short, 
I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  of  our  birds  superior  in  song 
to  the  present,  with  the  solitary  exception  of  our  Orphean 
Mocking  Biid. 

The  Louisiana  Grosber.'.  "s  fed  with  the  usual  kinds  of  bird- 
seed, and  in  its  wild  state  seems  to  be  particularly  fond  of 
the  kernels  of  the  sour-gum  berries;  it  probably  also  feeds 
upon  the  berries  of  the  juniper,  which  abound  in  the  regions 
it  usually  inhabits. 

Though  somewhut  local  in  its  distribution,  this  attractive  bird 
occurs  regularly  throughout  the  Eastern  States,  but  is  uncommon 
in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont.  It  is  found  in  some 
parts  of  New  Brunswick,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Quebec,  and  is  quite 
comii.  jn  in  Ontario,  and  abundant  in  Manitoba. 

Though  generally  selecting  a  secluded  spot  for  nesting,  a  pair 
will  occasionally  wander  away  from  the  forest  and  thicket,  and  even 
build  in  the  heart  of  a  town.  In  1890  a  nest  was  built  and  a  brood 
raised  not  a  hundred  yards  from  where  I  am  penning  these  words, 


k'l 


BLUE  GROSBEAK. 


371 


—  almost  within  the  shadow  of  Memorial  Hall.  The  nest  was 
laid  upon  a  branch  that  hung  over  the  sidewalk  of  Oxford  Street, 
not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  from  the  ground,  the  tree  being 
in  the  garden  adjoining  the  residence  of  Mr.  Francis  Foster. 


BLUE   GROSBEAK. 

GUIRACA   C^RULEA. 

Char.  Male  :  general  plumage  rich  blue,  darker  on  the  back;  feath- 
ers around  base  of  bill,  wings,  and  tail  black ;  two  bright  rufous  bands 
on  the  wings.  Female  :  smaller ;  above,  yellowish  brown ;  below,  dark 
buff.     Length  6/4  to  7  inches. 

Nest.  On  a  low  branch  of  a  tree  or  bush,  situated  along  *-he  margin  of 
a  wood,  or  in  an  open  pasture  or  orchard,  or  by  a  roadside,  —  sometimes 
in  an  alder  swamp  or  blackberry  thicket ;  composed  of  leaves,  weed- 
stems,  and  grass,  lined  with  horse-hair,  roots,  or  fine  grass  ;  occasionally 
pieces  of  snake  skin  or  newspaper  are  worked  into  the  exterior. 


Esga- 


3-4;  light  blue;  0.85  X  0.65. 


This  shy  and  almost  solitary  species  chiefly  inhabits  the 
warmer  parts  of  America  from  Brazil  to  Virginia;  stragglers 
occasionally  also  visit  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey,  and  Bullock  observed  them  on  the  tableland  of 
Mexico.  According  to  Wilson,  it  is  nearly  a  silent  bird,  seldom 
singing  in  the  cage,  its  usual  note  of  alarm  being  merely  a 
loud  chuck ;  though  at  times  its  musical  capacity  under  more 
favorable  circumstances  is  suggested  by  a  few  low  and  sweet- 
toned  notes.  It  may  be  fed  on  Indian  corn,  hemp-seed, 
millet,  and  the  kernels  of  several  kinds  of  berries. 

According  to  Audubon,  these  birds  arrive  in  Louisiana 
about  the  middle  of  March.  They  proceed  through  Alabama, 
Georgia,  and  the  Carolines,  in  all  which  districts  they  breed ; 
and  although  rarely  seen  in  the  Western  States,  Mr.  Tovvnsend 
and  myself  met  with  them  in  May  on  the  borders  of  the 
Platte,  near  Scott's  Blufis,  where  they  were  already  mated  and 
breeding.  They  are  sometimes  met  with  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  as  far  as  New  Jersey,  and  Audubon  found  a  nest  in  that 
State  within  a  few  miles  of  Philadelphia.    Their  food  consists 


«i. 


If 
I 
I     I 


\A 


ii 


I 


372 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I      ^ 


f 


principally  of  different  sorts  of  seeds ;  they  are  also  fond  of 
those  of  rice,  and  grass  of  all  kinds.  At  the  period  of  breeding 
they  sing  with  great  sweetness  and  melody. 

This  species  is  still  considered  a  Southern  bird  ;  but  it  regularly 
visits  Pennsylvania,  Kentucky,  and  Kansas,  and  has  been  taken  in 
Massachusetts  and  New  Brunswick. 


PURPLE   FINCH. 

LINNET. 
Carpodacus  PURPUREUS. 

Char.  Male :  no  "  purple ; "  body  rosy  crimson,  brightest  on  the 
head,  darkest  on  the  back,  palest  on  the  breast ;  belly  white  ;  wings  and 
tail  dusky  ;  everywhere  streaked  more  or  less  with  brown  and  gray. 
Female  and  young :  without  red ;  streaked  brown  and  gray,  sometimes 
with  olive  tint. 

A^es^.  Near  a  settlement  and  in  some  old  pasture,  open  grove,  park,  or 
orchard  ;  composed  of  twigs,  weed-ste  >,  roots,  and  bark,  lined  with  fine 
grass  or  hair. 

Ei.Xs.  4-5 ;  pale  dull  bluish  green,  variously  marked  with  dark  brown 
and  lilac;  0.S5  X  0.60.  , 

These  brilliant  and  cheerful  songstjrs  inhabit  the  Northern 
and  Western  States  during  the  summer,  where  they  rear  their 
young.  They  appear  to  have  a  great  predilection  for  resinous 
evergreens,  pine,  and  spiuce,  and  feed  upon  the  berries  of  the 
juniper  and  red  cedar  as  well  as  the  seeds  of  the  tulin-tree  and 
others ;  they  likewise  frequent  gardens  for  the  same  purpose, 
and  are  particularly  pleased  with  sunflower  seeds  and  other 
oily  kinds.  When  reduced  to  necessity  they  are  observed  to 
eat  the  buds  of  the  beech  and  those  of  the  fruit-trees,  —  prob- 
ably for  the  sake  of  the  stamens  contained  in  them,  of  which 
they  are  greedy  when  displayed  in  the  opening  blossoms.  The 
stipules  of  the  expanding  buds  of  the  elni,  which  are  sweet 
and  mucilaginous,  as  well  as  the  young  capsules  of  the  willow 
in  the  spring,  also  make  a  common  part  of  their  fare.  Their 
food  in  summer,  however,  consist?  principally  of  insects  and 
juicy  berries,  as  those  of  the  honeysuckle  and  others. 


PURPLE  FINCH. 


373 


Although  the  Purple  Finch  breeds  and  passes  the  season  in 
this  vicinity,  yet  as  early  as  the  close  of  September  they  leave 
us  for  the  South ;  about  which  time  and  nearly  to  the  close  of 
October,  small,  hungry,  roving  flocks  arrive  from  the  more 
northern  States  and  Canada  or  Newfoundland.  At  the  same 
time  likewise  great  numbers  visit  Pennsylvania,  the  maritime 
parts  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  and  many  pass  the  winter 
in  the  Middle  States,  while  others  proceed  as  far  south  as  the 
States  of  Louisiana,  Florida,  and  Texas,  returning  north  in  the 
latter  end  of  March  or  early  in  April,  and  arriving  with  us  in 
the  month  of  May  to  pass  the  most  important  period  of  their 
existence.  Roving  flocks  are  also  seen  here  as  early  as  the 
24th  of  March,  singing  while  they  stay  with  great  energy  and 
cheerfulness ;  these  in  all  probability  proceed  to  Labrador  or 
Newfoundland  to  breed.  The  males  now  have  many  bitter 
contests  for  the  choice  of  their  mates,  and  are  very  bold  and 
pugnacious  in  confinement,  attempting  to  destroy  every  other 
bird  introduced  into  the  same  cage.  They  also  bite  severely 
when  taken  up  wounded,  but  are  directly  reconciled  to  the 
cage,  finding  their  most  important  wants  so  amply  supplied ; 
yet  in  this  state  they  often  refuse  to  sing,  and  after  moulting 
into  the  humble  plumage  of  the  female,  frequently  remain  so, 
without  ever  renewing  their  crimson  dress.  They  are  here 
exposed  in  cages  for  sale  at  high  prices  (by  the  name  of 
Linnets),  and  sing  pretty  commonly  in  confinement.  Their 
notes  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Warbling  Vireo,  but 
louder,  and  more  agreeably  diversified.  From  the  tops  of  our 
lofty  and  spreading  elms  or  shadowy  spruce  trees,  where  they 
delight  to  pass  the  time,  their  varied  and  very  cheerful  melody 
is  often  continued  for  hours  almost  without  interval,  and 
poured  forth  like  a  torrent.  After  a  combat  with  a  rival,  his 
towering  notes  of  victory  burst  out  into  rapture,  and  he  now 
seems  to  triumph  with  loud  and  petulant  hilarity.  The  song 
of  this  beautiful  Finch  is  indeed  much  finer  than  that  of  the 
Canary ;  the  notes  are  remarkably  clear  and  mellow,  and  the 
trilling  sweet  and  various,  particularly  on  their  first  arrival.  At 
times  the  warble  is  scarcely  audible,  and  appears  at  a  distance ; 


I 


ill' 


374 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


■'.i 


it  then,  by  a  fine  crescendo,  bursts  into  loudness  and  falls  into 
an  ecstasy  of  ardent  and  overpowering  expression  ;  at  such 
times  the  usual  pauses  of  the  song  are  forgotten,  and  like  the 
varied  lay  of  the  Nightingale,  the  ravishing  performer,  as  if  in 
serious  emulation,  seems  to  study  every  art  to  produce  the 
effect  of  brilliant  and  well-contrasted  harmony.  As  he  sits  on 
the  topmost  bough  of  some  tall  sapling  or  more  lofty  tree,  sur- 
veying the  wide  landscape,  his  proud  voice  and  elevated  action 
seem  to  bid  defiance  to  competition ;  and  while  thus  earnestly 
engaged,  he  seems  to  fear  no  spectator,  however  near  may  be 
his  approaches.  The  rapidity  of  his  performance  and  the  pre- 
eminent execution  with  which  it  is  delivered  seem  almost  like 
the  effort  of  a  musical-box  or  fine-toned,  quickly  moving,  deli- 
cate strain  on  the  organ.  While  feeding  in  the  month  of 
March  these  birds  also  utter  a  querulous  tshippee  tshce,  in 
nearly  the  same  sad  and  liquid  tone  as  that  uttered  by  the 
Yellow  Birds  while  thus  engaged.  The  dull-colored  birds,  in 
the  attire  of  the  female,  do  not  sing  either  so  well  or  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  crimson-colored  individuals. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is,  as  I  have  observed  in  two  in- 
stances in  Cambridge,  made  in  the  horizontal  branches  of  the 
balsam-fir.  In  the  first,  which  I  saw  in  the  garden  of  Professor 
Farrar,  it  was  made  in  a  young  tree  about  6  feet  from  the 
ground.  On  approaching  it  the  female  sat  still  until  I  nearly 
touched  her,  and  made  very  little  complaint  when  off.  The 
nest  was  coarse  and  substantial,  very  much  like  that  of  the 
Song  Sparrow,  composed  of  coarse  grass  and  lined  with  fine 
root-fibres.  From  this  nest  was  raised  in  a  cage  one  of  the 
young,  which  became  exceedingly  docile  and  affectionate,  but 
was  not  remarkable  for  its  song. 

In  winter  the  Purple  Finch  is  found  regularly,  though  sparingly, 
through  the  southern  and  central  portions  of  New  England  and  in 
Ontario,  and  I  have  heard  its  song  in  mid-winter  in  a  New  Bruns- 
wick forest. 


t  ■ 


i 


'  > 


w 


*  i  i 


---  ri.fe^is,^vv-^^- 


PINE  GROSBEAK. 

PiNICOLA    ENUCLEATOR. 

Char.  Male:  dark  brown  and  ash  washed  with  rosy  carmine  ;  wings 
with  two  white  bands,  female  and  young  male  have  no  red ;  head  and 
rump  bronze.     Length  8^  to  9  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  border  of  a  swamp  or  the  margin  of  a  stream  running 
through  an  evergreen  forest ;  saddled  on  a  low  branch  or  in  a  crotch  of 
a  low  bush,  or  placed  in  a  crevice  of  a  rock.  A  bulky,  ill-made  affair 
of  moss,  or  twigs  and  roots  or  strips  of  bark,  and  lined  with  fine  grass,, 
roots,  or  vegetable  fibre. 

Eggs.  4-.?;  pale  greenish  blue  marked  with  dark  brown  and  lilac; 
1.05  X  0.75. 

These  splendid  and  very  hardy  birds  appear  to  dwell  almost 
wholly  within  the  cold  and  Arctic  regions  of  both  continents, 
whence,  only  in  severe  winters,  a  few  migrate  into  Can- 
ada and  the  United  States,  where  they  are  consequently  of 
rare  and  uncertain  occurrence.  They  have  been  seen  in 
winter  in  the  lower  part  of  Missouri,  and  at  the  same  season, 
occasionally,  in  the  maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  Penn- 
sylvania, and  are  observed  to  return  to  Hudson  Bay  ns  early  as 
April.  According  to  Mr.  Pennant,  they  frequent  the  woods  of 
pine  and  juniper,  and  are  now  possessed  of  musical  talents ; 


Z1^ 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


r; 


but  as  the  period  of  incubation  approaches  they  grow  silent. 
Suited  to  the  sterile  climates  they  inhabit,  their  fare,  besides 
the  seeds  of  the  pine,  alpine  plants,  and  berries,  often  consists 
of  the  buds  of  the  poplar,  willow,  and  other  northern  trees  and 
shrubs ;  so  that  they  are  generally  secure  of  the  means  of  sub- 
sistence as  long  as  the  snows  are  not  too  overwhelming.  The 
individuals  as  yet  seen  in  the  United  States  are  wholly  young 
birds,  which,  it  seems,  naturally  seek  out  warmer  climates  than 
the  adult  and  more  hardy  individuals. 

According  to  Mr.  T.  McCuUoch,  of  Pictou,  Nova  Scotia,  in 
very  severe  winters  flocks  of  these  birds,  driven  from  the  pine 
forests  by  famine  and  cold,  collect  about  the  barns,  and  even 
enter  the  streets  of  Pictou,  alighting  in  quest  of  food.  A  male 
bird  at  this  season,  caiight  in  a  trap,  became  very  familiar,  and 
as  the  spring  approached  he  resumed  his  song  in  the  mornings, 
and  his  notes,  like  those  of  the  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak,  were 
exceedingly  rich  and  full.  As,  however,  the  period  for  migra- 
tion approached,  his  familiarity  disappeared,  and  the  desire  of 
liberty  seemed  to  overcome  every  other  feeling.  For  four  days 
in  succession  his  food  remained  untouched,  and  his  piteous 
wailing  excited  so  much  commiseration  that  at  length  he  was 
released.  The  Pine  Grosbeak  is  said  to  breed  in  Maine  as 
well  as  in  Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 

The  visits  of  this  handsome  bird  to  New  England  and  the  more 
southern  portions  of  Canada  are  decidedly  irregular.  During  an 
occasional  winter  the  flocks  are  large  and  numerous,  while  again 
for  several  seasons  but  a  few  stragglers  may  appear. 

Dr.  Coues  thinks  that  there  is  no  question  but  that  the  bird  is  a 
"  resident "  in  northern  New  England,  breeding  in  some  parts  of 
Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont ;  but  I  am  much  inclined 
to  question  it.  Very  possibly  a  few  pairs  may  pass  an  occasional 
summer  in  that  region,  but  I  can  find  no  evidence  of  the  birds 
having  been  seen  there  with  sufficient  frequency  to  warrant  their 
being  termed  residents. 

The  only  known  instances  of  this  species  having  built  in  the 
vicinity  of  northern  New  England  must  be  credited  to  New 
Brunswick.  These  are  Boardman's  hypothetical  nest,  found  near 
St.  Stephen;  the  unfinished  nest  which  Banks  discovered  the 
parents  at   work  upon,  near  St.  John ;  and  the  nest   with  three 


PINE  GROSBEAK. 


377 


young  and  one  egg  taken  by  Cox  on  the  Restigouche,  in  latitude 
47°.  But  excepting  in  these  three  instances,  and  a  fourth  where 
young  birds  were  seen  on  the  Tobique  River,  the  species  has 
been  unknown  as  a  summer  resident  in  New  Brunswick.  Cox 
saw  several  examples  along  the  Restigouche  in  July,  1888,  but  I 
have  hunted  for  them  up  and  down  the  same  river,  from  the 
Wagan  to  the  Metapedia,  both  in  July  and  September,  without 
seeing  or  hearing  so  much  as  one. 

Some  years  ago  I  kept  a  male  in  confinement,  and  found  him  a 
delightful  pet.  He  was  healthy  and  happy  in  his  cage,  was  easily 
tamed,  being  confiding  and  affectionate,  and  added  to  his  other 
good  qualities  a  sweet  voice  and  pretty  melody. 

The  song  differs  with  the  season.  In  winter  it  is  strong  and 
cheery,  as  befits  a  stalwart  fellow  who  laughs  at  Jack  Frost  and 
makes  merry  when  the  north  wind  blows.  But  when  the  spring- 
time comes  he  tells  the  old,  old  story  in  most  gentle  tones,  —  a 
whispered  love  song,  sweet  and  tender,  yet  with  a  wild  plaintive- 
ness  that  makes  it  peculiarly  pleasing. 


'f  'I 


AMERICAN   CROSSBILL. 

COMMON    CROSSBILL.     RED   CROSSBILL. 
LOXIA   CURVIROSTRA   MINOR. 

Char.  Bill  long  and  compressed,  mandibles  curved  at  the  points, 
which  cross  or  overlap.  In  young  birds  the  bill  is  straight.  Adult  males : 
dull  red,  variable  in  shade ;  wings  and  tail  blackish  brown.  Young  males : 
yellowish  olive.  In  changing  plumage  they  display  great  variety  of  com- 
binations of  yellow,  olive,  and  red.  Females :  above,  dull  olive ;  rump 
and  crown  yellow  ;  wings  and  tail  as  male ;  below,  grayish.  Length  5^ 
to  6  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  a  dense  wood,  on  a  branch  of  an  evergreen  tree  15 
to  30  feet  from  the  ground;  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  weed-stems, 
and  roots,  lined  thickly  with  grass,  roots,  hair,  and  feathers. 

Ef^^qs.    3-4 ;  pale  green  dotted,  near  larger  end,  with  brown  and  laven- 
der; 0.75  X  0.57. 

This  more  common  species,  like  the  preceding,  inhabits  the 
high  northern  and  arctic  regions  of  both  continents,  where  it 
breeds,  and  is  met  with  from  Greenland  to  Pennsylvania,  or 
farther  south,  according  to  the  season  and  the  success  in 
obtaining  food  when  driven  to  make  a  southern  descent  or 
migration.  From  September  to  April  these  birds  are  found 
inhabiting  the  extensive  pine  forests  in  the  mountainous  and 
interior  districts  of  Pennsylvania  and  other  States  to  the  north  ; 
they  also  extend  their  winter  migrations  into  the  lower  parts  of 
the  State  of  Missouri.  They  have  occasionally  been  seen  in 
the  maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts,  but  are  less   common 


AMERICAN  CROSSBILL. 


379 


here  than  the  following  species,  generally  taking,  in  their  irregu- 
lar incursioiio,  a  more  interior  and  mountainous  route.  In  the 
eastern  chain  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  Pennsylvania,  according  to 
Wilson,  they  appear  to  be  at  times  very  abundant  visitors, 
feeding  so  steadily  on  the  seeds  of  the  white  i)ine  and  hem- 
lock spruce  as  to  be  approached  without  taking  alarm.  They 
have  also  a  loud,  sharp,  and  not  unmusical  note,  chattering  as 
they  fly,  and  during  the  prevalence  of  deep  snows  become  so 
tamed  by  hunger  as  to  alight  round  the  mountain  cabins,  even 
settling  on  the  roofs  when  disturbed,  and,  like  pigeons,  de- 
scending in  the  next  moment  to  feed  as  if  they  had  never 
been  molested.  They  are  then  easily  trapped,  and  so  eager 
and  unsuspicious  as  to  allow  an  approach  so  near  that  they 
may  be  knocked  down  with  sticks.  In  these  very  familiar  visits 
they  are  observed  even  to  pick  off  the  clay  from  the  logs  of  the 
house,  and  to  swallow  the  mere  earth  to  allay  the  cravings  of 
hunger.  In  cages  they  show  many  of  the  habits  of  the  Parrot, 
climbing  up  the  sides  and  holding  the  pine-cones  given  them  in 
one  claw  while  they  extract  the  seeds.  Like  the  same  bird  in 
Louisiana,  they  also  do  considerable  damage  at  times  in  ihe 
orchard  by  tearing  apples  to  pieces  for  the  sake  of  getting  at 
the  seeds  only.  They  feed  likewise  on  the  seeds  of  the  alder, 
as  well  as  the  kernels  of  other  fniits  and  the  buds  of  trees. 
Scarcely  any  of  these  birds  have  yet  been  observed  to  breed 
within  the  United  States,  as  they  retire  for  this  purpose  to  their 
favorite  pine  forests  in  high  and  more  cool  latitudes,  where  in 
security  and  solitude  they  pursue  the  duties  of  procreation. 
Dr.  Brewer,  of  Boston,  however,  obtained  eggs  of  these  birds 
from  Coventry,  in  Vermont.  Like  the  preceding  species,  they 
often  breed  in  winter  in  more  temperate  countries,  as  in 
January  and  February,  and  the  young  fly  in  March. 

This  bird  was  not  observed  by  the  naturalists  of  the  north- 
em  expeditions  in  any  part  of  the  fur  countries.  It  is,  how- 
ever, described  by  Forster.  In  the  winter  of  1S32,  during  or 
soon  after  a  severe  snow-storm,  a  large  flock  of  these  uncer- 
tain winter  visitors  were  seen  in  a  red-cedar  grove  near  to 
Mount  Auburn,  in  this  vicinity.     In  1833,  accompanied  by  the 


V 


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380 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I    I 


White-winged  species,  a  flock  of  the  same  birds  made  their 
appearance  as  early  as  the  nth  of  November  in  some   tall 
pine-trees  in  the  same  place  they  visited  the  last  year  in  the 
depth  of  winter.    They  are  very  busy  and  unsuspicious,  having 
very  much  the  manners  of  Parrots  in  their  feeding.     At  some 
distance  beneath  the  trees  where  they  are  engaged,  we  can 
hear  them  forcing  open  the  scales  of  the  rigid  pine  cones  with 
a  considerable  crackling  and  the  wings  of  the  seeds  fly  about 
in  all  directions.     Sometimes  the  little  Redpolls  also  attend  to 
snatch  a  seed  or  two  as  they  are  spread  to  the  winds.     They 
fly  somewhat  like  the  Yellow  Birds,  by  repeated  jerks  and  sink- 
ings and  risings  in  their  course,  but  proceed  more  swiftly  and 
directly  to  their  destination ;  they  also  utter  a  rather  loud  and 
almost  barking  or  fifing  chirp,  particularly  the  females,  like 
'tsh  Uship  'tsh  Uship.      -heir  enemies  seem  also  to  follow  them 
into  this  distant  and  unusual  retreat.     One  evening,  as  they 
were  uttering  thei^  quailing  chirp,  and  about  to  roost  in  the 
pines,  we  heard  an  unusual  cry,  and  found  that  the  alarm  was 
justly  occasioned  by  the  insidious  and  during  attack  of  a  bold 
Butcher  Bird   {Lanius  borealis),  who  had  taken  advantage  of 
tneir  bewildered  confusion  at  the  moment  of  retiring  to  repose. 
Besides  their  call  and  '-^nlinary  plaints,  we  hear,  as  I  have 
thought,  now  and  tht;i\  in  the  warmer  part  of  the  day,  a  rather 
agreeable,  but  somewhat  mont.  .onous,  song.     We  found  these 
birds,  as  well  as  the  Redpolls,  very  fat  and  plump ;  and  they 
devour  a  great  quantity  of  pinf.^-seeds,  with  which  the  oesopha- 
gus is  perpetually  gorged  as  full  as  in  the  gluttonous  and  tune- 
less Cedar  Birds  {Bombycilld) . 

The  Red  Crossbill  is  still  known  to  be  chiefly  a  winter  visitor  to 
New  England  and  the  Middle  States,  though  every  summer  a 
small  number  may  be  met  with  in  the  more  northern  districts  and 
on  the  higher  hills,  and  nests  have  been  taken  in  Maine,  Vermont, 
Massachusetts,  and  New  York.  In  April,  1889,  Mr.  G.  S.  Miller, 
Jr.,  found  a  flock  on  Cape  Cod,  and  upon  dissecting  several,  he  dis- 
covered evidence  that  they  were  nesting. 

In  northern  Maine  and  New  Brunswick  numbers  have  been 
seen  during  the  summer  months ;  but  even  m  these  regions  it  is 
chief  V  a  winter  visitor. 


WHITE-WINGED  CROSSBILL,  381 


WHITE-WINGED   CROSSBILL. 

LOXIA   LEUCOPTERA. 

Char.  Bill  long  and  compressed,  mandibles  curved  at  the  points, 
which  cross  or  overlap.  Male :  dull  rosy,  clouded  with  dull  dark  brown 
on  the  back ;  wings  and  tail  black ;  two  broad  white  bars  on  the  wings ; 
belly  dull  white  streaked  with  brown.  Female  :  dull  olive,  paler  beneath ; 
rump  buffy.  Young  similar  to  female,  but  paler  olive  above,  and  more 
decided  yellow  beneath,  streaked  everywhere  with  dark  brown.  Length 
about  6  to  6/4  inches. 

Nest.  In  the  deep  forest,  usually  saddled  on  a  fork  of  an  evergreen, 
amid  the  denser  foliage  near  the  centre  of  the  tree ;  made  of  twigs  and 
strips  of  birch  bark,  covered  exteriorly  with  moss  (usnea),  and  lined  with 
soft  moss  and  hair. 

Bg^s.  3-?;  pale  blue,  spotted  and  streaked  near  larger  end  with  red- 
dish brown  and  lilac ;  0.80  X  0.55. 

This  beautiful  and  well-distinguished  species  inhabits  the 
northern  regions  of  the  American  continent  only,  whence, 
at  irregular  intervals,  on  the  approach  of  winter,  it  arrives  in 
the  Northern  ?nd  Middle  States,  and,  as  usual  with  the  rest  of 
this  curious  family,  seeks  out  the  pine  and  hemlock-spruce 
forests.  Its  visits  to  this  State  [Massachusetts]  are  very 
irregular.  About  two  years  ago,  large,  gregarious,  famished 
flocks  were  seen  near  Newburyport  and  other  neighboring 
towns  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea-coast,  at  which  time  many 
were  caught,  killed,  and  caged.  The  habits  of  this  bird  are 
almost  entirely  similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  species.  Its 
song  is  said  to  be  mellow  and  agreeable,  and  in  captivity  it 
becomes  gentle  and  familiar. 

According  to  Mr.  Hutchins,  it  arrives  around  Hudson  Bay 
in  March,  and  in  May  builds  a  nest  of  grass,  mud,  and  feath- 
ers, fixed  generally  about  half  way  up  a  pine-tree,  and  lays  5 
white  eggs  marked  with  yellowish  spots.  The  young  fly  about 
the  end  of  June.  It  remains  in  this  country  till  the  close  of 
November,  after  which  it  retires,  probably  to  the  South ;  and 
Wilson's  bird  was  obtained  in  the  Great  Pine  Swamp  or  forest 
of  the  Pokono  (Pennsylvania),  in  the  month  of  September, 
so  that  it  may  be  possible  that  some  few  pairs  breed  in  this 
situation. 


I     ' 


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382 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


This  species,  according  to  Richardson,  inhabits  the  dense 
white  spruce  forests  of  the  fur  countries,  feeding  principally  on 
the  seeds  of  the  cones.  It  ranges  through  the  whole  breadth 
of  the  continent,  and  probably  up  to  the  68th  parallel,  where 
the  forests  terminate.  It  is  usually  seen  in  the  upper  branches 
of  trees,  and  when  wounded  still  clings  so  fast  as  to  remain 
suspended  after  death.  In  September,  collecting  in  small 
flocks,  they  fly  from  tree  to  tree  in  a  restless  manner  and  make 
a  chattering  noise ;  and  in  the  depth  of  winter  they  retire  from 
the  coast  to  seek  shelter  in  the  thick  woods  of  the  interior. 

This  interesting  bird  must  still  be  written  "  irregular  "  in  its  oc- 
currence in  this  State,  though  usually  more  or  less  abundant  in 
winter  down  to  the  40th  parallel. 

It  is  partially  sedentary  in  northern  New  England  and  the  Mari- 
time Provinces  of  Canada,  though  much  more  abundant  in  winter 
than  during  the  warm  weather.  The  nest  is  built  in  January  and 
February,  —  I  have  known  of  numerous  nests  being  discovered  in 
New  Brunswick  in  those  months, — and  it  is  probable  that  both 
young  and  old  retire  farther  northward  after  the  young  birds  are 
able  to  fly. 


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WHITE-BREASTED   NUTHATCH. 

SiTTA    CAROLINENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  bluish  ash;  top  of  head  and  neck  black;  wings  black, 
blue,  and  white ;  tail  black,  marked  with  white ;  beneath,  white ;  under 
tail-coverts  reddish  brown.  Bill  long  and  acute.  Female  and  young 
similar,  but  black  of  head  tinged  with  ashy  or  wanting.  Length  ^j^ 
inches. 

Niesf.  I  open  woodland,  placed  at  the  bottom  of  a  cavity  excavated 
in  a  dead  tree  or  stump,  — sometimes  an  old  woodpecker's  nest  is  used; 
made  of  leaves,  grass,  feathers,  and  hair. 

E,^,i,''s.  4-8  (occasionally  as  many  as  10,  usually  5) ;  white  tinged  with 
rose  pink,  and  spotted  with  reddish  brown  and  lilac  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  European  Nuthatch,  re- 
sides permanently  throughout  North  America,  from  Hudson 
Bay  and  Oregon  to  the  tableland  of  Mexico,  appearing  only 
more  common  and  familiar  at  the  approach  of  winter  in  con- 
sequence of  the  failure  of  its  food  in  its  favorite  sylvan  re- 
treats, which  it  now  often  forsakes  for  the  open  fields,  orchards, 
or  gardens,  where,  in  pairs  or  small  and  sometimes  contending 


1 ; 


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384 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


parties,  they  cautiously  glean  a  transient  means  of  subsistence, 
and  wander  from  place  to  place  as  the  supply  diminishes.  At 
the  welcome  return,  however,  of  the  month  of  April,  with  the 
revival  and  renewal  of  its  insect  fare  the  Nuthatch  becomes 
more  domestic ;  and  retiring  into  the  forest  with  its  mate,  it 
prepares  for  its  progeny  in  some  hollow  tree,  or  even  in  a  rail 
of  the  neighboring  fence.  The  male  is  now  assiduously  atten- 
tive to  his  sitting  mate,  supplying  her  regularly  with  food ;  on 
which  occasion  he  affectionately  calls  her  from  the  mouth  of 
her  dark  and  voluntary  prison,  where  sometimes,  in  mere 
sociability,  he  attempts  in  his  rude  way  to  soothe  he-  nth  his 
complaisant  chatter.  He  is  too  afFectionpte  to  lamble  from 
this  favorite  spot,  where  he  not  only  accompanies  his  consort, 
but,  sentinel-like,  watches  and  informs  her  Df  every  threaten- 
ing danger.  When  the  pair  are  feeding  on  the  trunk  of  the 
same  tree,  or  near  to  each  other  in  the  same  wood,  the  faithful 
male  is  heard  oerpetually  calling  upon  his  companion  at  short 
intervals  as  he  circumambulates  the  trunk.  His  approach  is 
announced  usually  at  a  distance  by  his  nasal  kank  ka??^, 
frequently  repeated,  as  in  spiral  circles  round  the  trunk  of 
some  tree  he  probes,  searches,  and  shells  off  the  bark  in  quest 
of  his  lurking  prey  of  spiders,  ants,  insects,  and  their  larvge  in 
general.  So  tight  and  secure  is  his  iiold  that  he  is  known  to 
roost  indifferently  with  his  head  up  or  down  from  the  tree ; 
and  when  wounded,  while  any  spark  of  life  remains,  his  con- 
vulsive and  instinctive  grasp  is  still  firmly  and  obstinately 
maintained.  Sometimes,  with  a  sort  of  complaisant  curiosity, 
one  of  the  birds,  when  there  is  a  pair,  will  silently  descend 
nearly  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  where  the  spectator  happens  to 
stand,  stopping,  head  downwards,  and  stretching  out  his  neck, 
as  it  werCj,  to  reconnoitre  your  appearance  and  motives ;  and 
after  an  interval  of  silence,  wheeling  round,  he  again  ascends 
to  his  usual  station,  trumpeting  his  notes  as  before.  He  seldom 
wholly  quits  the  forest,  but  when  baffled  by  the  slippery  sleet 
which  denies  him  a  foothold,  he  is  sometimes  driven  to  the 
necessity  of  approaching  the  barnyard  and  stables,  or  the 
precincts  of  the  dwelling,  where,  occasionally  mixing  among 


RED-BREASTED  NUTHA'iCH. 


385 


the  common  fowls,  entering  the  barn,  examining  its  beams  and 
rafters,  he  seems  to  leave  no  means  untried  to  secure  a 
subsistence. 

This  species  is  doubtless  a  resident  in  Ontario  and  New  Eng- 
land, becoming  more  abundant  during  the  winter  months ;  but  in 
the  Maritime  Provincc^^  It  is  only  a  summer  visitor. 


RED-BREASTED   NUTHATCH. 

SllTA    CANADENSIS. 

Char.  Above,  ashy  blue;  top  and  side  of  head  black;  broad  stripe 
of  white  over  the  eyes  ;  wings  blackish,  with  ashy  and  white  markings ; 
outer  tail-feathers  black  and  white ;  beneath,  reddish  brown,  —  paler  in 
the  female  ;  chin  white  ;  bill  long  and  acute.    Length  ^Yz  inches. 

Nest.  In  open  woodland  ;  an  excavation  in  a.  decayed  stub,  lined  with 
grass  and  roots,  —  sometimes  with  feathers.  Often  the  entrance  is  sur- 
rounded with  fir  balsam. 

Egi^s.  4-6 ;  white  with  pale  roseate  tint  and  thickly  spotted  with  brown 
and  lilac  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

The  habits  of  these  smaller  birds  are  almost  similar  to  the 
preceding ;  they  have,  however,  a  predilection  for  pine  forests, 
feeding  much  on  the  oily  seeds  of  these  evergreens.  In  these 
barren  solitudes  they  are  almost  certain  to  be  found  in  busy 
employment,  associating  in  pairs  with  the  Chickadees  and 
smaller  Woodpeckers,  the  whole  forming  a  hungry,  active,  and 
noisy  group,  skipping  from  tree  to  tree  with  petulant  chatter, 
probing  and  rattling  the  dead  or  leafless  branches,  prying  in 
every  posture  for  their  scanty  food,  and,  like  a  horde  of  Tar- 
tars, proceed  through  the  forest  and  leisurely  overrun  the  whole 
of  the  continent  to  the  very  confines  of  the  tropics,  retiring 
north  in  the  same  manner  with  the  advance  of  the  spring. 

The  notes  of  this  species  of  Nuthatch,  though  similar,  are 
sharper  than  those  of  the  preceding,  resembling  day  day  dait, 
and  sounding  almost  like  a  child's  trumpet.  Its  motions  are 
also  quicker.  They  cling  to  the  bark  of  the  tree  and  roost 
commonly  with  the  head  downwards,  in  the  manner  of  their 
whole  tribe. 

VOL.  I.  —  25 


i:\ 


f-  I'  ' 


in  I 


'! 


386 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


This  species  has  a  more  extended  range  than  carolinensis,  being 
found  farther  west  and  farther  north.  It  breeds  in  northern  New 
England  and  northward  to  about  50°.  It  occurs  sparingly  in  winter 
in  New  Brunswick.  A  good  account  of  its  nesting  habits,  written 
by  Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  appeared  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Nuttall  Club 
for  October,  1878. 


BROWN-HEADED   NUTHATCH. 

SiTTA   PUSILLA. 

Char.  Above,  ash}  blue  ;  top  of  head  and  neck  brown  ;  white  spot  on 
back  of  neck;  wings  Hack  and  bluish;  middle  tail-feathers  like  back, 
others  black  tipped  with  bluish;  beneath,  dull  brownish  white  tinged 
with  pale  ash  behind;  throat  white.  Bill  long,  slender,  and  acute. 
Length  3^  to  ^%  inches. 

Nest.  In  open  wojdland;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  stump,  lined  with 
grass,  leaves,  and  f.iathers. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  white,  thickly  marked  with  fine  spots  of  reddish  brown  and 
pale  lilac ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  small  species  is  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of  the  State 
of  Virginia.  In  the  Southern  States  it  is  rather  common,  and 
is  also  met  with  in  the  island  of  Jamaica.  Like  the  last,  which 
it  resembles  in  manners,  it  is  very  fond  of  pine-trees,  and 
utters  a  similar  note,  but  more  shrill  and  chirping.  Its  food, 
besides  the  seeds  of  the  pine,  is  usually  the  insects  which  infest 
the  forest  trees.  In  winter  families  of  this  species  of  8  or  10 
individuals  may  be  seen  busily  hunting  in  company,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  perpetual  and  monotonous  screeping.  It  is  less 
suspicious  than  most  other  sylvan  birds,  sometimes  descending 
down  the  trunk  of  a  tree  watching  the  motions  of  the  by- 
stander ;  and  if  the  intrusion  happens  to  be  near  the  nest,  or 
while  engaged  in  digging  it  out,  the  little  harmless  mechanic 
utters  a  sort  of  complaining  note,  and  very  unwillingly  relin- 
quishes his  employment,  which  is  instantly  renewed  on  the 
removal  of  the  observer. 

his  species  is  restricted  to  the  Southern  and  Gulf  States,  rarely 
wandering  nortli  of  Virginia  and  Maryland;  but  examples  have 
been  taken  in  Missouri,  Ohio,  and  Michigan. 


BROWN  CREEPER. 


387 


BROWN   CREEPER. 

CeRTHIA   FAMILIARIS   AMERICANA. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown,  each  feather  streaked  with  dull  white  ; 
rump  rufous ;  wings  with  two  bars  of  dull  or  reddish  white;  beneath,  dull 
white  or  pale  gray.     Length  about  5/4  inches. 

Nest.  In  deep  woods,  placed  behind  a  sliver  of  loose  bark  on  a 
decayed  tree  or  stub;  made  of  shreds  of  bark  and  usnea  moss  firmly 
interwoven  and  set  on  a  platform  of  twigs.  It  is  sometimes  lined  with 
feathers. 

Eggs.  4-8 ;  white  or  creamy,  —  when  freshly  laid,  tinted  with  pale 
roseate,  —  spotted  with  reddish  brown  ;  0.60  X  0.50. 

This  industrious  forager  for  insects,  chiefly  dwelUng  in  the 
seclusion  of  the  forest,  is  but  seldom  seen  in  the  summer  j  but 
on  the  approach  of  winter,  with  other  hungry  wanderers  of 
similar  habits  such  as  the  small  Woodpeckers  and  Nuthatches, 
it  makes  its  appearance  on  the  wooded  skirts  of  the  village, 
particularly  among  the  pine-trees,  and  occasionally  becomes 
familiar  enough  to  pay  a  passing  visit  to  the  orchard.  In  this 
country,  however,  the  species  is  neither  common  nor  familiar, 
nor  is  it  more  abundant  in  the  Northern  than  the  Middle 
States,  though  its  breeding  range  extends  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Newfoundland. 

The  bill  of  the  Creeper  not  being  of  sufficient  strength  to 
probe  the  wood,  it  rests  contented  with  examining  the  crevices 
of  the  bark  for  insects  and  their  eggs,  proceeding  leisurely 
upwards  or  downwards  in  straight  or  spiral  lines  towards  the 
top  of  the  tree,  dodging  dexterously  to  the  opposite  side  from 
the  observer,  and  only  resuming  its  occupation  when  assured 
of  solitude  and  safety.  While  thus  employed  it  utters  at  short 
intervals  a  sharp,  quick,  rather  grating  note,  by  which  its  resort 
may  be  discovered,  though  it  requires  some  time  and  a  good 
eye  to  perceive  it  if  on  the  upper  branches  of  a  tall  tree. 
Though  it  lives  chiefly  on  insects,  it  also,  according  to  Wilson, 
collects  the  seeds  of  the  pine  for  food,  and  is  particularly  fond 
of  the  vermin  which  prey  on  thoce  kinds  of  trees.  In  the 
thick  forests  which  it  inhabits  in  the  Northern  and  Western 


f  i 


; ' 


ill 


i 


388 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


States  about  the  middle  of  April,  it  commences  the  nest  in  the 
hollow  tnmk  or  branch  of  a  tree  which  has  been  exposed  to 
decay  by  injury  or  accident.  Here  in  the  accidental  cavities 
or  deserted  holes  of  the  squirrel  or  Woodpecker  the  Creeper 
deposits  her  eggs.  The  young  creep  about  with  great  caution 
previous  to  taking  to  their  wings. 

The  Brown  Creeper  is  a  common  bird  in  New  England,  though 
in  the  southern  portions  it  is  less  numerous  in  the  breeding  season 
than  during  the  colder  months.  It  is  common  in  Ontario  and 
Quebec,  but  less  abundant  in  the  Maritime  Provinces.  An  inter- 
esting account  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  bird,  written  by  Mr. 
William  Brewster,  appeared  in  the  Nuttall  Bulletin  for  July,  1879. 


BAHAMA   HONEY  CREEPER. 

Certhiola  bahamensis. 

Char.  Above,  dark  brown ;  rump  yellow ;  stripe  over  eyes  and  under- 
parts  dull  white;  breast  and  edge  of  wing  pale  yellow;  tail  broadly 
tipped  wiih  white.    Length  ^Yz  inches. 

A^est.  In  a  low  tree  or  bush ;  a  large,  pensile,  dome-shaped  structure, 
the  entrance  at  the  side  ;  made  of  weed-stems  and  grass,  and  lined  with 
plant  down. 

E,^gs.  2-4 ;  white,  tinged  with  green  and  speckled  with  rufous :  0.65 
X  0.50. 

The  home  of  .^his  species  is  on  the  Bahamas,  but  it  is  found 
regularly  along  the  southeastern  coast  of  Florida.  Mr.  Gosse  in 
his  "  Birds  of  Jamaica "  gives  an  interesting  account  of  its 
habits.  He  describes  it  as  obtaining  its  food  in  much  the  same 
manner  as  Humming  Birds,  —  by  probing  the  flowers ;  but  in- 
stead of  hovering  in  front  of  a  flower,  the  Creeper  alights  on  the 
tree.  When  examining  a  flower  for  the  insects  which  are  at  the 
bottom  of  the  cup,  the  bird  throws  its  body  into  a  variety  of  posi- 
tions, sometimes  with  the  back  downward,  the  better  to  reach  the 
interior  of  a  blossom  with  its  curved  bill  and  pecuHar  tongue.  The 
bird  is  unsuspecting  and  familiar,  and  freely  resorts  to  the  blossom- 
ing shrubs  of  a  garden. 


BIJVCK  AND   WHITE  WARBLER. 

BLACK  AND  WHITE  CREEPER. 

Mniotilta  varia. 

Char.  Above,  black  striped  with  white,  head,  wings,  and  tail  mostly 
black;  beneath,  white,  more  or  less  striped  with  black.  Female  and 
young  without  stripes  on  the  throat.    Length  4>^  to  ^}i  inches. 

ATest.  In  open  woodland  or  pasture ;  placed  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  or 
stump,  or  at  the  base  of  a  moss-covered  rock,  sometimes  in  a  hole ;  made 
of  grass,  moss,  and  shreds  of  bark,  and  lined  with  grass,  hair,  roots,  and 
vegetable  down. 

£i'gs.  4-5;  creamy  white,  thickly  spotted  with  pale  reddish  brown; 
0.65  X  0.50. 

This  remarkable  bird,  allied  to  the  Creepers,  is  another 
rather  common  summer  resident  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  probably  migrates  pretty  far  to  the  north.  It 
arrives  in  Louisiana  by  the  middle  of  February,  visits  Pennsyl- 
vania about  the  second  week  in  April,  and  a  week  later  appears 
in  the  woods  of  New  England,  protracting  its  stay  in  those 
countries  t'll  the  beginning  of  October,  and  lingering  on  the 
southern  limits  of  the  Union  a  month  later,  so  that  it  does  not 
appear  to  be  much  affected  by  the  commencement  of  frost, 
and  probably  at  this  season  occasionally  feeds  on  berries. 
As  numbers  are  observed  round  Vera  Cruz  toward  the  com- 
mencement of  winter,  and  are  described  as  inhabiting  the 
West  India  islands,  it  is  probable  they  pass  the  extremity  of 
the  winter  beyond  the  southern  boundary  of  the  Union. 


! 


i  'f 


■J 


I  \ 


: ' ' 


ll 


Hi 

t 


u? 


390 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


I 


Like  the  Creepers  and  Nuthatches,  these  birds  are  seldom 
seen  to  perch  upon  the  branches  of  trees,  but  creep  spirally 
around  the  trunk  and  larger  boughs  up  and  down,  in  quest  of 
insects  which  alight  upon  or  hide  within  the  crevices  of  the 
bark.  In  this  employment  they  display  all  the  dexterity  of  the 
more  regular  climbers.  For  this  purpose  the  hind  toe  is  rather 
stout,  and  extends  backward  so  as  to  balance  with  the  anterior 
part  of  the  foot,  and  allow  a  motion  like  that  of  the  Creepers, 
from  which  genus  they  are  at  the  same  time  wholly  distinct. 

At  the  period  of  breeding,  the  male  scrapes  out  a  little 
monotonous  ditty  in  recognition  of  his  mate,  resembling  some- 
what the  syllables  te  tshe  tshe  tshe  tsK  tshete^  proceeding  from 
high  to  low  in  a  tolerably  strong  and  shrill,  but  somewhat 
filing  tone.  As  the  season  of  incubation  advances,  this  note, 
however,  becomes  more  mellow  and  warbling,  and  though 
feeble,  is  very  pleasing,  bearing  at  this  time  some  resemblance 
to  that  of  the  Redstart  {Setophaga  ruticilld) .  This  song  is  like 
the  ascending  call  of  ^iwee  ^twee  ^twee  ^twee  'tweet  At  the 
romantic  estate  of  the  Cold  Spring  place  in  Roxbury  the  pro- 
prietor, Mr.  Newman,  pointed  out  to  me  the  nest  of  this  bird, 
which  on  the  27th  of  June  contained  four  young  about  a  week 
old.  Other  birds  of  this  species  I  had  seen  fledged  this  year 
about  the  1 7  th  of  the  same  month,  and  as  Wilson  remarks  the 
flight  of  the  young  in  July,  we  may  suppose  that  they  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season.  The  nest  was  niched  in  the  shelving  of 
a  rock  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  was  externally  com- 
posed of  coarse  strips  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  hemlock-trees, 
which  overshadowed  the  situation.  With  these  were  mixed  soft, 
dissected  old  leaves  and  a  few  stalks  of  dead  grass ;  the  lining 
was  made  of  a  thin  layer  of  black  hair.  According  to  Audu- 
bon, these  birds  nest  in  Louisiana  in  some  small  hole  in  a  tree, 
and  employ  dry  moss  and  a  lining  of  downy  substances.  The 
pair  fed  the  young  before  us  with  affectionate  attention,  and 
did  not  seem  more  uneasy  at  our  presence  than  the  common 
and  familiar  summer  Yellow  Bird.  They  crept  about  the  trunks 
of  the  neighboring  trees,  often  head  downwards,  like  the  Sittas, 
and  carried  large  smooth  caterpillars  to  their  young.     This  is, 


PURPLE  MARTIN. 


391 


in  fact,  at  all  times  a  familiar,  active,  and  unsuspicious  little 
visitor  of  the  shady  gardens  and  orchards,  as  well  as  woods 
and  solitudes. 

The  Black  and  White  Creeper,  as  this  species  is  usually  called, 
occurs  west  to  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  is  abundant  in  Manitoba. 
It  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  the  Maritime  Provinces. 

It  was  first  classed  with  the  Warblers  by  Spencer  Baird  in  1859, 
and  has  been  retained  there  by  all  later  authorities.  Nuttall  con- 
sidered that  there  were  two  species,  one  of  which  he  named  borealis; 
but  it  has  not  been  considered  valid,  though  Ridgway,  m his  "Man- 
ual," suggests  the  name  M.  varia  borealis  for  a  supposed  Missis- 
sippi valley  and  Middle  American  race,  which  he  describes  as 
somewhat  smaller  than  true  varia j  but  he  thinks  the  material  at 
hand  insufficient  to  warrant  a  positive  decision,  so  we  are  saved  the 
infliction  of  this  much  "  hair-splitting." 


PURPLE   MARTIN. 

Progne  subis. 

Char.  Male:  lustrous  black  with  purple  tint,  wings  and  tail  with 
brownish  tint.  Female  and  young :  browner  above,  and  beneath  grayish. 
Length  lYz  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  box,  or  attached  to  the  eave  of  a  house  ;  sometimes  in  a 
decayed  tree ;  made  of  grass,  leaves,  etc. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white  and  glossy;  0.95  X  0.75. 

According  to  the  progress  of  the  season  in  the  very  different 
climates  of  the  United  States,  is  measured  the  arrival  of  this 
welcome  messenger  of  spring.  Around  the  city  of  New  Or- 
leans, for  example,  the  Purple  Martin  is  seen  from  the  ist  to 
the  9th  of  February.  At  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  it  is  not  seen 
before  the  middle  of  March,  and  representatives  do  not  arrive 
in  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  until  the  first  week  in  April ;  on 
the  25  th  of  that  month,  or  later,  they  visit  the  vicinity  of  Bos- 
ton, and  penetrate  even  to  the  cold  regions  of  Hudson  Bay, 
where  they  arrive  in  May  and  retire  in  August ;  about  the  20th 
of  the  same  month  they  also  leave  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  migrations  of  these  birds  are  remarkably  extensive,  as 
they  were  seen  by  Mr.  Swainson  in  great  numbers  around  Per- 


I 


392 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


nambuco.  Mr.  Townsend  met  with  them  on  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  Audubon  observed  them  breeding  in  Texas.  In 
Oregon  we  found  them  nesting  in  the  knot-holes  of  the  oaks, 
and  the)'  did  not  appear  to  court  the  society  of  man,  as  we 
seldom  saw  them  near  the  fort.  In  their  haste  to  return  to 
their  natal  climes,  they  sometimes  expose  themselves  to  fatal 
accidents  from  changeable  and  unfavorable  weather.  In  the 
maritime  parts  of  Massachusetts,  and  probably  throughout  the 
State,  a  few  years  ago  after  a  rainy  midsummer,  many  were 
found  dead  in  their  boxes,  and  they  have  since  been  far  less 
numerous  than  formerly. 

This  beautiful  species,  like  many  others  of  the  family,  seeks 
out  the  dwellings  of  man,  associating  itself  equally  with  the 
master  and  the  slave,  the  colonist  and  the  aboriginal.  To  the 
Martin  it  is  indiflferent  whether  its  mansion  be  carved  and 
painted,  or  humbled  into  the  hospitable  shell  of  the  calabash 
or  gourd.  Secure  of  an  asylum  for  its  mate  and  young,  while 
under  the  protection  of  man  it  twitters  forth  its  gratitude,  and 
is  everywhere  welcomed  to  a  home.  So  eager  is  it  to  claim 
this  kind  of  protection  that  sometimes  it  ventures  hostilities 
with  the  Bluebirds  and  domestic  Pigeons,  who  are  often  forced 
to  abandon  their  hereditary  claims.  Satisfied  with  the  recep- 
tion and  success,  like  so  many  contented  and  faithful  domes- 
tics, it  returns  year  after  year  to  the  same  station.  The 
services  of  the  Martin  in  driving  away  Hawks  and  Crows  from 
the  premises  he  claims,  are  also  important  inducements  for 
favor;  he  has  even  the  courage  to  attack  the  redoubtable 
Kingbird,  when  its  visits  are  too  familiar  near  the  nest. 

At  the  approaching  dawn  the  merry  Martin  begins  a  lively 
twitter,  which,  continuing  for  half  a  minute,  subsides  until  the 
twilight  is  fairly  broken.  To  this  prelude  succeeds  an  ani- 
mated and  incessant  musical  chattering,  sufficient,  near  the 
dwelling,  to  awaken  the  soundest  sleeper.  His  early  vigils  are 
scarcely  exceeded  by  the  domestic  Cock;  the  industrious 
farmer  hears  the  pleasing  call  to  labor,  and  associates  with  this 
favorite  bird  the  idea  of  an  economical,  cheerful,  and  useful 
guest. 


PURPLE  MARTIN. 


393 


In  the  Middle  States,  fron.  the  15th  to  the  20th  of  April, 
the  Martins  begin  to  prepare  their  nest,  which  is  usually  made 
of  small  green  or  dry  leaves,  straws,  hay,  and  feathers,  laid  in 
considerable  quantities.  They  rear  two  broods  in  the  season. 
Several  pairs  also  dwell  harmoniously  in  the  same  box.  The 
male,  very  attentive  to  his  sitting  mate,  also  takes  part  in  the 
task  of  incubation ;  and  his  notes  at  this  time  have  apparently 
a  peculiar  anc  expressive  tenderness. 

The  food  of  the  Martin  is  usually  the  larger  winged  insects, 
as  wasps,  bees,  large  beetles,  such  as  the  common  CetoniaSf  or 
goldsmiths,  which  are  swallowed  whole.  His  flight  possesses 
all  the  swiftness,  ease,  and  grace  of  the  tribe.  Like  the  Swift, 
he  glides  along,  as  it  were,  without  exertion.  Sometimes  he  is 
seen  passing  through  the  crowded  streets,  eluding  the  passen- 
gers with  the  rapidity  of  thought ;  at  others  he  sails  among 
the  clouds  at  a  dizzy  height  like  something  almost  ethereal. 

The  Purple  Martin  occurs  throughout  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
though  nowhere  common,  and  is  extremely  local  in  its  distribution. 
It  is  rather  rare  near  Quebec,  but  common  at  Montreal  and 
throughout  Ontario.  Observers  in  Winnipeg  consider  the  bird 
abundant  there,  and  it  is  said  to  range  north  to  the  Saskatchewan 
valley. 

Small  colonies  of  these  Martins  are  found  scattered  through 
New  England  at  widely  separated  localities,  accepting,  usually,  the 
proffered  hospitality  of  friendly  villagers  who  provide  them  with 
homes,  though  an  occasional  coterie  may  be  found  nesting  in  the 
primitive  manner  of  their  ancestors,  —  rearing  their  broods  in 
natural  cavities  of  trees  or  in  crevices  of  rocks,  as  was  the  custom 
of  their  race  before  the  European  led  them  into  more  Sybaritic 
habits. 


!    ! 


-I 

hi 


f  ; 

5,     .  ■ 


V, 


M 


BARN   SWALLOW. 
Chelidon  erythrogaster. 

Char.  Upper  parts  steel  blue;  breast  ri':!!  chestnut;  belly  paler; 
tail  deeply  forked,  —  outer  feathers  several  inches  longer  than  the  inner. 
Length  5,'!  to  7>^  inches. 

A^est.  Attached  to  a  rafter  of  a  barn  or  the  side  of  a  cave ;  cup 
shaped ;  made  of  pellets  of  mud  bound  with  grass,  and  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers. 

■^^C'f-  3-6 ;  white,  variously  marked  with  dark  brown,  reddish  brown, 
or  purplish  brown  and  lilac;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  Bam  Swallows  arrive  in  Florida  and  the  maritime  parts 
of  Georgia  about  the  middle  of  March,  but  are  not  seen  in  the 
Middle  States  before  the  last  of  that  month  or  the  beginning 


BARN  SWALLOW. 


395 


I 


paler ; 
!  inner. 

e ;  cup 
h  grass 

brown, 

;  parts 
in  the 
inning 


of  April.  Their  northern  migration  extends  to  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  the  fur  countries, 
where,  distant  from  the  habitations  of  man,  they  inhabit  caves, 
particularly  those  in  the  limestone  rocks.  They  retire  from 
Massachusetts  about  the  i8th  of  September,  and  are  observed 
in  the  same  month  and  in  October  passing  over  the  penin- 
sula of  Florida  on  their  way  to  tropical  America,  where  they 
probably  pass  the  winter.  I  have  seen  a  straggling  pair  in 
this  vicinity  even  on  the  15  th  of  October.  The  fleetness  with 
which  they  move,  and  the  peculiarity  of  their  insect  fare,  are 
circumstances  which  would  impel  a  prompt  transition  to  more 
favorable  climates.  Accidental  fits  of  torpidity,  like  those 
which  occasionally  and  transiently  take  p'aoe  with  the  Hum- 
ming Bird,  have  undoubtedly  happened  to  Swallows,  without 
proving  anything  against  the  general  migrating  instinct  of  the 
species,  which  as  long  back  as  the  time  of  Anacreon  has  been 
generally  observed. 

Early  in  May  they  begin  to  build  against  a  beam  or  rafter, 
usually  in  the  barn.  The  external  and  rounding  shell  is  made 
of  pellets  of  mud  tempered  with  fine  hay  and  rendered  more 
adhesive  by  the  glutinous  saliva  of  the  bird ;  within  is  laid  a 
bed  of  fine  hay,  and  the  lining  is  made  of  loosely  arranged 
feathers.  They  have  usually  two  broods  in  the  season,  and  the 
last  leave  the  nest  about  the  first  week  in  August.  Twenty  or 
thirty  nests  may  sometimes  be  seen  in  the  same  bam,  and  two 
or  three  in  a  cluster,  where  each  pursues  his  busy  avocation  in 
the  most  perfect  harmony.  When  the  young  are  fledged,  the 
parents,  by  their  actions  and  twitterings,  entice  them  out  of 
the  nest,  to  exercise  their  wings  within  the  barn,  where  they  sit 
in  rows  amid  the  timbers  of  the  roof,  or  huddle  closely  to- 
gether in  cool  or  rainy  weather  for  mutual  warmth.  At  length 
they  venture  out  with  their  parents,  and,  incapable  of  constant 
exercise,  may  now  be  seen  on  trees,  bushes,  or  fence-rails,  near 
some  pond  or  creek  convenient  to  their  food ;  and  .their  diet 
is  disgorged  from  the  stomachs  or  crops  of  their  attentive 
parent' .  When  able  to  provide  for  themselves,  they  are  still 
often  fed  on  the  wing,  without  either  party  alighting ;  so  aerial 


ill 


t| 


[f   a! 


I 


396 


SINGING  BiRDS. 


and  light  are  all  their  motions  that  the  atmosphere  alone 
seems  to  be  their  favorite  element.  In  the  latter  end  of 
summer,  parties  of  these  social  birds  may  be  often  seen  by  the 
sides  of  dusty  roads,  in  which  they  seem  pleased  to  bask. 

About  the  middle  of  August  they  leave  the  barns,  and  begin 
to  prepare  for  their  departure,  assembling  in  great  numbers  on 
the  roofs,  still  twittering  with  great  cheerfulness.  Their  song 
is  very  sprightly,  and  sometimes  a  good  while  continued.  Some 
of  these  sounds  seem  like  '/*/<?  'fk  *fletalit,  utteted  with  rapid- 
ity and  great  animation.  A  while  before  their  departure,  they 
are  observed  skimming  along  the  rivers  and  ponds  after  insects 
in  great  numbers,  till  the  approach  of  sunset,  when  they  assem- 
ble to  roost  in  the  reeds. 

The  Bam  Swallow  is  a  common  bird  throughout  this  Eastern 
Province,  and  northward  to  the  lower  fur  countries. 
It  winters  in  ihe  West  Indies  and  Central  America. 


CLIFF  SWALLOW. 

eave  swaixow. 

Petrochelidon  lunifrons. 

Char.  Above,  dark  steel  blue  ;  forehead  dull  white ;  wings  and  tail 
browuish  black ;  rump  rufous ;  chin,  throat,  and  collar  around  neck  deep 
chestnut ;  patch  of  blue  black  on  breast ;  remaining  under-parts  pale 
gray  tinged  with  rufous.    Length  about  5X  inches. 

Nest.  Fastened  to  the  side  of  a  cliff  or  the  eave  of  a  building ;  made 
of  pellets  of  mud  and  lined  with  grass  and  feathers.  Usually  gourd- 
shaped,  the  entrance  at  the  mouth  of  the  gourd,  —  sometimes  open  on 
top. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  white,  variously  marked  with  shades  of  brown  and  purple ; 
0.80  X  0.55. 

The  Cliff  Swallows  have  but  recently  come  to  the  notice  of 
naturalists.  Their  summer  residence  in  the  temperate  parts 
of  America  is  singularly  scattered.  They  have  long  occupied 
the  regions  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  extending  to  the  banks  of 
the  Columbia,  and  the  cliffs  of  the  Missouri,  and  are  probably 
to  be  found  on  other  large  Western  rivers.     According  to 


CLIFF  SWALLOW. 


397 


Richardson  they  are  extremely  abundant  in  the  fur  countries. 
In  1815  they  were  observed  for  the  first  time  at  Henderson, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio,  and  at  Newport  in  Kentucky.  In 
181 7  they  made  their  appearance  at  Whitehall,  near  Lake 
Champlain,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York.  In 
these  places  their  increase  seems  to  have  kept  pace  with  the 
time  since  their  arrival,  augmenting  their  nests  from  a  single 
cluster  to  several  hundreds  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  years. 
Vieillot  observed  one  at  sea  off  Nova  Scotia,  and  they  have,  in 
fact,  long  been  commonly  known  in  that  Province.  In  181 8, 
as  I  learn  from  J.  W.  Boott,  Esq.,  they  began  to  build  at  Craw- 
ford's, near  the  base  of  the  White  Mountains  of  New  Hamp- 
shire. In  the  summer  of  1830  a  few  nests  were  seen  by 
General  Dearborn  at  Winthrop  in  Maine ;  he  had  also  heard 
of  one  at  Gardiner  in  the  same  State.  The  hibernal  retreat  of 
these  birds  would  appear  to  be  in  the  West  Indies,  as  they 
were  seen  in  Porto  Rico  by  Vieillot,  and  one  was  also  observed 
in  St.  Domingo  by  the  same  author. 

In  the  Western  States  they  arrive  from  the  South  early  in 
April,  and  al.nost  immediately  begin  to  construct  their  nests. 
They  commence  their  labor  at  the  dawn,  and  continue  their 
operations  until  near  mid-day.  The  nests  are  made  of  pellets 
of  sandy  mud,  disposed  in  layers  until  the  fabric,  with  its 
entrance,  assumes  the  form  of  a  projecting  retort,  agglutinated 
to  cliffs  or  the  walls  of  buildings  as  convenience  may  offer. 
From  the  nature  of  the  friable  materials  employed,  the  whole 
is  frail,  and  would  crumble  in  the  possession  of  any  but  the 
airy  owners.  The  internal  lining  is  of  straw  and  dried  grass 
negligently  disposed  for  the  reception  of  the  eggs.  They  raise 
but  a  single  brood,  who,  with  their  parents,  after  several 
attempts  at  mustering,  finally  disappear  in  August  as  suddenly 
as  they  came.  Mr.  Townsend  says  :  "  In  the  neighborhood  of 
the  Columbia  River  the  Cliff  Swallow  attaches  its  nest  to  the 
trunks  of  trees,  making  it  of  the  same  form  and  materials  as 
elsewhere."  The  face  of  Pillar  Rock,  an  isolated  columnar 
mass  of  basalt  near  Chinhook,  at  the  estuary  of  the  Columbia, 
was  rendered  still  more  fantastic  and  picturesque  by  the  nests 


!  ■  r 

11 


in 


'ii 


M 


398 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


of  the  Cliff  Swallow  with  which  it  was  faced ;  a  small  colony 
having  taken  up  their  abode  here.  These  were,  as  usual,  made 
of  pellets  of  mud,  enclosed  at  the  top,  but  without  the  retort 
necks. 

Like  the  rest  of  their  congeners,  these  birds  are  almost  per- 
petually on  the  wing  in  quest  of  flies  a-id  other  small  insects 
which  constitute  their  ordinary  food.  Their  note  does  not 
appear  to  resemble  a  twitter,  and .  according  to  Audubon  it 
may  be  imitated  by  rubbing  a  moistened  cork  round  in  the 
neck  of  a  bottle.  In  Kentucky,  until  the  commencement  of 
incubation,  the  whole  party  resorted  to  roost  in  the  hollow 
limbs  of  the  buttonwood-trees.  However  curious,  it  is  certain 
that  the  birds  have  but  recently  discovered  the  advantage  of 
associating  round  the  habitations  of  men. 

Numerous  colonies  of  this  species  are  found  throughout  New 
England  and  the  Maritime  Provinces,  and  a  few  pairs  have  been 
seen  at  Point  de  Monts,  on  the  north  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Law- 
rence, which  is  the  limit  of  its  northward  range  near  the  Atlantic. 

It  is  highly  probable  that  the  habit  of  breeding  in  large  commu- 
nities, and  thus  becoming  "local"  in  distribution,  will  account  for 
the  report  of  their  having  moved  eastward  during  the  first  half  of 
the  present  century.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  Audubon  discovered  the 
species  in  Kentucky  five  years  before  Say  found  it  among  the 
Rockies.  That  the  older  writers  knew  so  little  about  the  bird 
should  not  be  taken  as  evidence  of  its  absence,  —  they  failed  to 
learn  the  history  of  several  equally  common  species  ;  and  after  the 
added  years  we  are  still  ignorant  of  the  breeding  habits  of  some  of 
these  birds. 


-n 


^- 


"'y-T^-^^ 


f^ 


iSZ 


v^-^ 


yi 


^-^  >,  / 


■  '^  ^ 


f4 


TREE   SWALLOW. 

WHITE-BELLIED  SWALLOW.     RINGING  SWALLOW. 
Tachycineta  BICOLOR. 

Char.  Above,  rich  steel  blue,  wings  and  tail  with  green  reflections ; 
beneath,  white.    Length  about  6  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tall  dead  tree,  —  often  a  deserted  Woodpecker's 
hole,  —  sometimes  in  a  bird  box;  made  of  grass  and  straw,  lined  with 
feathers. 

■fi"^  '•    4-9  (usually  s) ;  white  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

This  species,  less  common  than  the  Barn  Swallow  and  nearly 
allied  to  the  common  Martin,  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Kew  England  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  extends  its  migra- 
tions over  the  continent  nearly  to  the  Arctic  circle,  having 
been  seen  by  Dr.  Richardson  in  the  latitude  of  53°  j  it  is 
also  abundantly  dispersed  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Columbia  River,  where  it  breeds,  as  well  as  around  Hudson 
Bay  and  throughout  the  Northern  and  Middle  States.  On  its 
arrival,  like  many  other  species,  it  seeks  out  the  society  of 
man  and  frequently  takes  possession  of  the  mansion  of  the 
Martin.  When  these  advantages  are  unattainable  it  will  be 
content  with  the  eaves  of  some  deserted  dwelling,  a  hollow 
tree,  its  ancient  residence,  or  even  an  horizontal  branch  when 
large  and  convenient. 

The  note  of  these  birds  is  a  shrill,  lively,  warbling  twitter ; 
but  they  are  more  quarrelsome  and  less  sociable  in  the  breed- 


(I 


400 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ing  season  that  the  Barn  Swallow.  In  the  spring  their  pro- 
tracted, angry  contentions,  and  rapid  chatter  are  often  heard  in 
the  air.  Their  food  is  similar  to  that  of  the  species  above 
mentioned,  and  they  make  a  snapping  sound  with  the  bill  in 
the  act  of  seizing  their  prey.  They  proceed  to  the  South  in 
September,  and  according  to  the  observations  of  Audubon 
pass  nearly,  if  not  quite,  the  whole  winter  in  the  cypress  swamps 
near  to  New  Orleans,  and  probably  in  the  Mexican  vicinity. 
He  observed  them  about  the  middle  of  December,  and  also 
near  to  the  close  of  January.  "  During  the  whole  winter  many 
retired  to  the  holes  around  houses,  but  the  greater  number 
resorted  to  the  lakes,  and  spent  the  night  among  the  branches 
of  the  wax-myrtle,"  whose  berries  at  this  season  afford  them  a 
support  on  which  they  fatten,  and  are  then  considered  as  excel- 
lent food.  About  sunset  they  usually  began  to  flock  together 
at  a  peculiar  call,  and  were  then  seen  almost  in  clouds  moving 
towards  the  neighboring  lagoons  or  the  estuaries  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Before  alighting  they  perform  their  aerial  evolutions 
to  reconnoitre  the  place  of  roosting,  soon  after  which  they 
rapidly  descend  as  it  were  in  a  spiral  vortex  almost  like  the 
fall  of  a  water- spout,  and  when  within  a  few  feet  of  the  wax- 
myrtles  they  disperse  and  settle  at  leisure  ;  but  their  twittering 
and  the  motions  of  their  wings  are  heard  throughout  the  night. 
At  dawn  they  rise,  at  first  flying  low  over  the  waters  which 
they  almost  touch,  and  then  rising  gradually  separate  in  quest 
of  food.  During  their  low  flight  numbers  of  them  are  often 
killed  by  canoe-men  with  the  mere  aid  of  their  paddles 
(Aububon).  This  predilection  for  the  borders  of  lakes  and 
ponds  led  some  of  the  ancient  writers  to  believe  that  Swallows 
retired  to  the  bottom  of  the  water  during  the  winter;  and 
some  fishermen  on  the  coast  of  the  Baltic  pretended  to  have 
taken  them  up  in  their  nets  in  large  knots,  clinging  together 
by  their  billb  and  claws  in  a  state  of  torpidity. 


BANK  SWALLOW. 

SAND   MARTIN. 
Clivicola  RIPARIA. 

Char.  Above,  dull  grayish  brown,  which  extends  around  the  neck  and 
across  the  breast ;  beneath,  white.    Length  about  5  inches. 

A'est.  At  the  end  of  a  br.rrow  excavated  in  a  bank  of  sand  or  gravel, 
—  usually  within  a  few  feet  jf  the  top ;  the  bank  generally  near  a  stream 
of  water ;  the  excavation  is  2  to  4  feet  deep,  and  widens  at  the  inner  end, 
where  a  little  dry  grass  and  a  few  feathers  are  loosely  placed,  and  on  this 
cushion  the  eggs  are  laid. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white;  0.70  X  0.50. 

These  plain-looking  and  smaller  birds,  though  equally  grega- 
rious with  other  kinds,  do  not  court  the  protection  or  society 
of  man,  —  at  least  their  habitations  are  remote  from  his.  They 
commonly  take  possession  for  this  purpose  of  the  sandy  bank 
or  bluff  of  a  river,  quarry,  or  gravel  pit,  2  or  3  feet  below  the 
upper  surface  of  the  bank.  In  such  places,  in  the  month  of 
April,  they  may  be  observed  burrowing  horizontally  with  their 
awl-like  bills,  when  at  length,  having  obtained  a  foot-hold  in 
the  cliff,  they  also  use  their  feet  and  continue  this  labor  to  the 
depth  of  2  or  3  feet.  Many  of  these  holes  may  be  often  seen 
within  a  few  inches  of  each  other.  This  species  has  gener- 
VOL.  I.  —  26 


fl 


il 


?    i| 


402 


SINGING  BIRDS. 


ally  two  broods  in  the  season,  and  on  the  egress  of  the  young 
in  the  latter  end  of  May  the  piratical  Crows  often  await  their 
opportunity  to  destroy  them  as  they  issue  from  the  nest.  In 
rocky  countries  the  birds  often  take  possession  of  the  clefts 
on  the  banks  of  rivers  for  their  dwelling,  and  sometimes  they 
content  themselves  with  the  holes  of  trees. 

Their  voice  is  only  a  low  twitter  of  short  lisping  notes  j  and 
while  busily  passing  backwards  and  forwards  in  the  air  around 
their  numerous  burrows,  they  seem  at  a  distance  almost  similar 
to  hiving  bees.  As  they  arrive  earlier  than  other  species,  the 
cold  and  unsettled  weather  often  drives  them  for  refuge  in 
their  holes,  wl  ;  3  '.hey  cluster  together  for  warmth,  and  have 
thus  been  fouL  Ijk  ;  reduced  to  a  state  of  torpidity.  Dwel- 
ling thus  shut  up,  hey  a^*^  ^ften  troubled  with  swarms  of  infest- 
ing insects,  resembling  fleab,  which  assemble  in  great  numbers 
around  their  holes.  They  begin  to  depart  to  the  South  from 
the  close  of  September  to  the  middle  of  October.  Although 
they  avoid  dwelling  near  houses,  they  do  not  fly  from  settled 
vicinities ;  and  parties  of  six  or  more,  several  miles  from  their 
nests,  have  been  seen  skimming  through  the  streets  of  adjacent 
villages  in  the  province  of  Normandy. 

They  are  found  on  both  sides  of  North  America,  from  the 
shores  of  the  Atlantic  to  the  borders  of  the  Columbia,  and  in 
all  the  intermediate  region  suited  to  their  manner  of  breeding. 
According  to  Audubon,  they  winter  in  great  numbers  in  Florida, 
and  breed  from  Labrador  to  Ix)uisiana. 

If  the  Bank  Swallow  was  found  in  Labrador  by  Audubon  it  has 
since  changed  its  habitat  to  the  extent  of  deserting  that  country, 
for  during  recent  years  only  one  example  has  been  seen  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  though  colonies  have 
been  found  on  Anticosti  and  the  Magdalen  Islands. 

In  the  Far  West  these  birds  range  to  much  higher  latitudes,  a 
few  having  been  met  with  along  the  valley  of  the  Mackenzie 
River.     The  winter  resorts  of  the  species  are  in  South  America. 


ROUGH-WINGED  SWALLOW. 


403 


ROUGH-WINGED   SWALLOW. 

SXELGIDOFrERYX   SERRIPENNIS. 

Char.  Above,  grayish  brown ;  beneath,  brownish  gray,  whitening  on 
the  belly.    Edge  of  wings  rough  to  the  touch.    Length  5  to  5^  inch'js. 

Nest.  In  a  cavity  of  a  bank  or  in  a  crevice  of  a  stone  wall  or  br  idge, 
usually  near  a  stream  ;  made  of  dry  grass  lined  with  feathers. 

Egg^'    4-7  ;  white ;  0.75  X  0.50. 

We  are  indebted  to  Audubon  for  the  discovery  of  this  spe- 
cies so  much  allied  to  the  preceding,  who  first  observed  it 
near  Bayou  Sara,  and  afterwards  in  South  Carolina.  Of  its 
habits  he  says  nothing;  but  it  is  rarer,  and  he  thinks  its 
habitual  residence  may  prove  to  be  far  to  the  westward,  — 
perhaps  the  valleys  of  the  Columbia. 

This  species  is  more  common  in  the  Western  Fau;  ;il  Province 
than  in  the  East;  it  is  abundant  in  British  Columbia.  It  occurs 
regalarly,  however,  throughout  the  Eastern  States  norh  to  New 
York,  Ohio,  and  Illinoifi,  and  sparingly  in  Connecticut.  It  has  also 
been  found  in  parts  of  Ontario. 

In  appearance  and  habits  it  so  closely  resembles  the  Bank  Swal- 
low that  it  may  be  overlooked  by  the  casual  observer ;  it  does  not, 
however,  confine  its  choice  of  a  nesting  site  to  a  sand-bank,  but 
will  place  its  nest  amid  the  stones  of  a  wall  or  bridge,  in  a  crevice 
of  a  building,  or  even  in  a  knot-hole. 


Note.  —  The  Cuban  Cliff  Swallow  {Petrochelidon  fulva) 
and  the  Bahama  Swallow  {Calichelidon  cyaneovirides)  have 
been  added  to  the  United  States  fauna  by  Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott,  who 
captured  examples  on  Dry  Tortugas  island  during  March  and 
April,  1890. 


'Hi  I 


^1 


139 


I 


KINGBIRD. 

BEE   MARTIN. 
Tyrannus  TYRANNUS. 

Char.  Above,  blackish  ash,  darker  on  the  head;  beneath,  white; 
breast  tinged  with  gray;  tail  black,  tipped  with  broad  band  of  white. 
Crown  with  concealed  patch  of  yellow  or  orange  red.  Length  8  to  9 
inches. 

JVest.  On  a  branch  or  in  fork  of  a  tree,  in  garden  or  pasture ;  com- 
posed of  twigs,  roots,  and  moss,  lined  with  roots,  horse-hair,  and  feathers. 
The  exterior  is  loosely  laid,  but  the  interior  is  neat  and  compact. 

E^^^s.  4-5 ;  creamy  white,  spotted  with  light  and  dark  brown ;  0.95 
X  0.70. 


KINGBIRD. 


405 


This  well-known,  remarkable,  and  pugnacious  bird  takes  up 
his  summer  residence  in  all  the  intermediate  region  from  the 
temperate  parts  of  Mexico  to  the  uninhabited  and  remote  inte- 
rior of  Canada.  In  all  this  vast  geographical  range  the  King- 
bird seeks  his  food  and  rears  his  young.  According  to  Audu- 
bon they  appear  in  Louisiana  by  the  middle  of  March ;  and 
about  the  20th  of  April  ^^'ilson  remarked  their  arrival  in 
Pennsylvania  in  small  parties  of  five  or  six ;  but  they  are  seldom 
seen  in  this  part  of  New  England  before  the  middle  of  May. 
They  are  now  silent  and  peaceable,  until  they  begin  to  pair, 
and  form  their  nests,  which  takes  place  from  the  first  to  the 
last  week  in  May  or  early  in  June,  according  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  season  in  the  latitudes  of  40  and  43  degrees. 
The  nest  is  usually  built  in  the  orchard,  on  the  horizontal 
branch  of  an  apple  or  pear  tree,  sometimes  in  an  oak,  in  the 
adjoining  forest,  at  various  heights  from  the  ground,  seldom 
carefully  concealed,  and  firmly  fixed  at  the  bottom  to  the  sup- 
porting twigs  of  the  branch.  The  outside  consists  of  coarse 
stalks  of  dead  grass  and  wiry  weeds,  the  whole  well  connected 
and  bedded  with  cut-weed  down,  tow,  or  an  occasional  rope- 
yam  and  wool ;  it  is  then  lined  with  dry,  slender  grass,  root 
fibres,  and  horse-hair.  The  eggs  are  generally  3  to  5,  yel- 
lowish white,  and  marked  with  a  few  large,  well-defined  spots 
of  deep  and  bright  brown.  They  often  build  and  hatch  twice 
in  the  season. 

The  Kingbird  has  no  song,  only  a  shrill,  guttural  twitter, 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Martin,  but  no  way  musical.  At 
times,  as  he  sits  watching  his  prey,  he  calls  to  his  mate  with  a 
harsh  tsheup,  rather  quickly  pronounced,  and  attended  with 
some  action.  As  insects  approach  him,  or  as  he  darts  after 
them,  the  snapping  of  his  bill  is  heard  like  the  shutting  of  a 
watch-case,  and  is  the  certain  grave  of  his  prey.  Beetles, 
grasshoppers,  crickets,  and  winged  insects  of  all  descriptions 
form  his  principal  summer  food.  I  have  also  seen  him  col- 
lecting the  canker-worms  from  the  Elm.  Towards  autumn,  as 
various  kinds  of  berries  ripen,  they  constitute  a  very  consider- 
able and  favorite  part  of  his  subsistence  ;  but  with  the  excep- 


A 


i  J 


ill 


■i 

Hi 
i 

I 


i 


406 


FLYCATCHERS. 


tion  of  currants  (of  which  he  only  eats  perhaps  when  confined), 
he  refuses  all  exotic  productions,  contenting  himself  with 
blackberries,  whortle-berries,  the  berries  of  the  sassafras,  cornel, 
viburnum,  elder,  poke,  and  five-leaved  ivy.  Raisins,  foreign 
currants,  grapes,  cherries,  peaches,  pears,  and  apples  were 
never  even  tasted  when  offered  to  a  bird  of  this  kind,  which  I 
had  many  months  as  my  pensioner ;  of  the  last,  when  roasted, 
sometimes,  however,  a  few  mouthfuls  were  relished  in  the 
absence  of  other  more  agreeable  diet.  Berries  he  always  swal- 
lowed whole,  grasshoppers,  if  too  large,  were  pounded  and 
broken  on  the  floor  as  he  held  them  in  his  bill.  To  manage  the 
larger  beetles  was  not  so  easy  ;  these  he  struck  repeatedly  against 
the  ground,  and  then  turned  them  from  side  to  side,  by  throwing 
them  dexterously  into  the  air,  after  the  manner  of  the  Toucan, 
and  the  insect  was  uniformly  caught  reversed,  as  it  descended, 
with  the  agility  of  a  practised  cup-and-ball  player.  At  length 
the  pieces  of  the  beetle  were  swallowed,  and  he  remained  still 
to  digest  his  morsel,  tasting  it  distinctly  soon  after  it  entered 
the  stomach,  as  became  obvious  by  the  ruminating  motion  of 
his  mandibles.  When  the  soluble  portion  was  taken  up,  Inrge 
pellets  of  the  indigestible  legs,  wings,  and  shells,  as  likewise 
the  skins  and  seeds  of  berries,  were,  in  half  an  hour  or  less, 
brought  up  and  ejected  from  the  mouth  in  the  manner  of  the 
Hawks  and  Owls.  When  other  food  failed  he  appeared  very 
well  satisfied  with  fresh  minced  meat,  and  drank  water  fre- 
quently, even  during  the  severe  frosts  of  January,  which  he 
endured  without  much  difficulty ;  basking,  however,  like  Dio- 
genes, in  the  feeble  benms  of  the  sun,  which  he  followed  round 
the  room  of  his  confinement,  well  satisfied  when  no  intruder 
or  companion  threw  him  into  the  shade.  Some  very  cold 
evenings  he  had  the  sagacity  to  retire  under  the  shelter  of  a 
depending  bed-quilt,  was  very  much  pleased  with  the  warmth 
and  brilliancy  of  lamp-light,  and  would  eat  freely  at  any  hour 
of  the  night.  Unacquainted  with  the  deceptive  nature  of 
shadows,  he  sometimes  snatched  at  them  for  the  substances 
they  resembled.  Unlike  the  Vieros,  he  retired  to  rest  without 
hiding   his   head   in   the   wing,  and  was  extremely  watchful, 


KINGBIRD. 


407 


though  not  abroad  till  after  sunrise.  His  taciturnity  and  disin- 
clination to  friendship,  and  familiarity  in  confinement,  were  strik- 
ing traits.  His  restless,  quick,  and  side-glancing  eye  enabled 
him  to  follow  the  motions  of  his  flying  insect  prey,  and  to  as- 
certain precisely  the  infallible  instant  of  attack.  He  readily 
caught  morsels  of  food  in  his  bill  before  they  reached  the 
ground,  when  thrown  across  the  room,  and  on  these  occa- 
sions seemed  pleased  with  making  the  necessary  exertion. 
He  had  also  a  practice  of  cautiously  stretching  out  his  neck, 
like  a  snake,  and  peeping  about  either  to  obtain  sight  of  his 
food,  to  watch  any  approach  of  danger,  or  to  examine  any- 
thing that  appeared  strange.  At  length  we  became  so  well 
acquainted  that  when  very  hungry  he  would  express  his  grati- 
tude on  being  fed  by  a  shrill  twitter  and  a  lively  look,  which 
was  the  more  remarkable  as  at  nearly  all  other  times  he  was 
entirely  silent. 

In  a  natural  state  he  takes  his  station  on  the  top  of  an 
apple-tree,  a  stake,  or  a  tall  weed,  and  betwixt  the  amusement 
of  his  squeaking  twitter,  employs  himself  in  darting  after  his 
insect  food.  Occasionally  he  is  seen  hovering  over  the  field, 
with  beating  wing,  almost  like  a  Hawk,  surveying  the  ground  or 
herbage  for  grasshoppers,  which  are  a  favorite  diet.  At  other 
times  these  birds  may  be  observed  in  companies  flickering  over 
still  waters  in  the  same  employment,  —  the  gratification  of  appe- 
tite. Now  and  then,  during  the  heat  of  summer,  they  are  seen 
to  dip  and  bathe  in  the  watery  mirror ;  and  with  this  washing, 
drying,  and  pluming,  they  appear  to  be  both  gratified  and 
amused.  During  the  season  of  their  sojourn  the  pair  are 
often  seen  moving  about  in  company,  with  a  rapid  quivering 
of  the  wings  and  a  continued  tremulous,  shrieking  twitter. 
Their  energetic  and  amusing  motions  are  most  commonly  per- 
formed in  warm  and  fine  weather,  and  continue,  with  little 
interru  tion,  until  towards  the  close  of  August. 

One  o(  the  most  remarkable  traits  in  the  character  of  the 
Kingbird  is  the  courage  and  affection  which  he  displays  for  his 
mate  and  young ;  for  on  his  first  arrival  he  is  rather  timid,  and 
readily  dodges  before  the  Swallow  and  Purple  Martin.    Indeed 


i      i 


ii 

•111 


408 


FLYCATCHERS. 


•i 


at  this  season  I  have  seen  the  Spotted  Sandpiper  drive  away  a 
pair  of  Kingbirds  because  they  happened  to  approach  the 
premises  of  her  nest.  But  he  now  becomes,  on  this  important 
occasion,  so  tenacious  of  his  rights  as  readily  to  commence  the 
attack  against  all  his  feathered  enemies,  and  he  passes  several 
months  of  the  summer  in  a  scene  of  almost  perpetual  contest ; 
and  not  overrating  his  he  tile  powers,  he  generally  finds  means 
to  come  off  with  impunitv.  Eagles,  Hawks,  Crows,  Jays,  and 
in  short  every  bird  which  excites  his  suspicion  by  its  inten- 
tional or  accidental  approach,  are  attacked  with  skill  and 
courage ;  he  dives  upon  the  heads  and  backs  of  the  larger 
intruders,  who  become  so  annoyed  and  tormented  as  willingly 
to  make  a  precipitate  retreat.  He  pursues  his  foes  sometimes 
for  a  mile  ;  and  at  length,  assured  of  conquest,  he  returns  to  his 
prominent  watch-ground,  again  quivering  his  wings  in  gratula- 
tion,  and  rapidly  uttering  his  shrill  and  triumphant  notes.  He 
is  therefore  the  friend  of  the  farmer,  as  the  scourge  of  the  pil- 
ferers and  plunderers  of  his  crop  and  barn-yard.  But  that  he 
might  not  be  perfectly  harmless,  he  has  sometimes  a  propensity 
for  feeding  on  the  valuable  tenants  of  the  bee-hive ;  for  these 
he  watches,  and  exu'cingly  twitters  at  the  prospect  of  success 
as  they  wing  their  way  engaged  in  busy  employment ;  his  quick- 
sighted  'iyes  now  folhr-.v  them,  until  one,  more  suitable  than  the 
rest,  becomes  his  favopte  mark.  I'his  selected  victim  is  by 
some  farniers  believeii  to  he.  a  drone  rather  than  the  stinging 
neutral  worker.  The  selective  discernment  of  the  eyes  of 
this  bird  has  often  amused  me  ;  berries  of  different  kinds,  held 
to  my  domestic  Kingbird,  however  similar,  were  rejected 
or  snatched  as  they  suited  his  instinct,  with  the  nicest 
discrimination. 

As  the  young  acquire  strength  for  their  distant  journey,  they 
may  be  seen  in  August  and  Sei:tember  assembling  together  in 
almost  silent,  greedy,  and  watchful  parties  of  a  dozen  or  more, 
feeding  on  various  berries,  particularly  those  of  the  sassafras 
and  cornel,  from  whence  they  sometimes  drive  away  smaller 
birds,  and  likewise  spar  and  chase  each  other  as  the  supply 
diminishes.     Indeed,  my  domestic  allowed  no  other  bird  to 


KINGBIRD. 


409 


live  in  peace  near  him  when  feeding  on  similar  food ;  and 
though  lame  of  a  wing,  he  often  watched  his  opportunity  for 
reprisal  and  revenge,  and  became  so  jealous  that,  instead  of 
being  amused  by  companions,  sometimes  he  caught  hold  of 
them  with  his  bill,  and  seemed  inclined  to  destroy  them  for 
invading  his  usurped  privileges.  In  September  the  Kingbird 
begins  to  leave  the  United  States  and  proceeds  to  pass  the 
winter  in  tropical  America.  During  the  period  of  migration 
southward,  Audubon  remarks  that  they  fly  and  sail  through  the 
air  with  great  ease  at  a  considerable  elevation  ;  and  they  thus 
continue  their  silent  retreat  throughout  the  night  until  about 
the  first  of  October,  when  they  are  no  longer  to  be  seen 
within  the  limits  of  the  Middle  States. 

All  lovers  of  birds  and  of  justice  will  thank  Mrs.  Olive  Thorne 
Miller  for  her  noble  defence  of  this  chivalrous  and  much  maligned 
bird,  which  appeared  in  the  "Atlantic  Monthly  "  for  August,  1890. 
The  systematists  have  dubbed  him  "  tyrant  of  the  tyrants,"  but 
his  friends  know  him  to  be  a  true  knight,  the  real  "  king  of  the 
air." 


Note.  —  The  Arkansas  Kingbird  {T.  verticalis)  differs  from 
tyrannus  in  being  light  ashy  gray  on  head,  neck,  and  lireast,  and 
other  lower  parts  yellow.  In  size  the  two  birds  are  much  the  same, 
some  examples  of  the  Western  form  being  slightly  larger. 

Its  habitat  is  the  Western  plains ;  but  specimens  have  been  taken 
in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States. 


(I 


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)h-*-^i         OLIVE-SIDED   FLYCATCHER.    "■  f  ^  *>  i  ■ 


■i-^C/i^i  i 


CONTOPUS    BOREALIS. 


Char.  Above,  dull  olive  brown,  darker  on  head,  paler  on  rump;  tail 
dusky,  tipped  with  gray ;  wings  dusky,  with  gray  band ;  lower  parts  yel- 
lowish white  ;  flanks  pale  olive.     Length  7^  to  8  inches. 

Nest.  Saddled  on  horizontal  limb  of  tall  tree  ;  of  twigs  and  grass  lined 
with  grass  and  moss. 

Es^i^s.  3-5;  creamy  white,  spotted  near  larger  end  with  reddish  brown 
and  pale  purple ;  0.85  X  0.65. 

This  remarkable  species,  wliich  appertains  to  the  group  of 
Pewees,  was  obtained  in  the  woods  of  Mount  Auburn,  in  this 
vicinity,  by  Mr.  John  Bethune,  of  Cambridge,  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1830.  This,  and  a  second  specimen  acquired  soon 
afterwards,  were  females  on  the  point  of  incubation.  A  third 
individual  of  the  same  sex  was  killed  on  the  21st  of  June, 
1 83 1.  They  were  all  of  them  fat,  and  had  their  stomachs 
filled  with  torn  fragments  of  wild  bees,  wasps,  and  other  sim- 
ilar insects.  I  have  watched  the  motions  of  two  other  living 
individuals  who  appeared  tyrannical  and  quarrelsome  even  with 
each  other ;  the  attack  was  always  accompanied  with  a  whir- 
ring, querulous  twitter.  Their  dispute  was  apparently,  like 
that  of  savages,  about  the  rights  of  their  respective  hunting- 
grounds.  One  of  the  birds,  the  female,  whom  I  usually  saw 
alone,  was  uncommonly  sedentary.     The  territory  she  seemed 


OLIVE-SIDED  FLYCATCHER. 


411 


determined  to  claim  was  circumscribed  by  the  tops  of  a  cluster 
of  tall  Virginia  junipers  or  red  cedars,  and  an  adjoining  elm 
and  decayed  cherry-tree.  From  this  sovereign  station,  in  the 
solitude  of  a  barren  and  sandy  piece  of  forest  adjoining  Mount 
Auburn,  she  kept  a  sharp  lookout  for  passing  insects,  and  pur- 
sued them  with  great  vigor  and  success  as  soon  as  they  ap- 
peared, sometimes  chasing  them  to  the  ground,  and  generally 
resuming  her  perch  with  an  additional  mouthful,  which  she 
swallowed  at  leisure.  On  descending  to  her  station  she  occa- 
sionally quivered  her  wings  and  tail,  erected  her  blowsy  cap, 
and  kept  up  a  whistling,  oft-repeated,  whining  call  of  'pu  'pUy 
then  varied  to  'pii  ptp,  and  '/?/  pUy  also  at  times  ^pip  ^pip  'pit 
pip  pip  pip,  pu  pu  pip,  or  'til,  'tii  'til,  and  7«  'tic.  This 
shrill,  pensive,  and  quick  whistle  sometimes  dropped  almost  to 
a  whisper  or  merely  '/«.  The  tone  was  in  fact  much  like  that 
of  the  phii  phti  phii  of  the  Fish  Hawk.  The  male,  however, 
besides  this  note,  at  long  intervals  had  a  call  of  'eh'phebTe  or 
'hphebcd,  almost  exactly  in  the  tone  of  the  circular  tin  whistle, 
or  bird-call,  being  loud,  shrill,  and  guttural  at  the  commence- 
ment. The  nest  of  this  pair  I  at  length  discovered  in  the 
horizontal  branch  of  a  tall  red  cedar  40  or  50  feet  from  the 
ground.  It  was  formed  much  in  the  manner  of  the  Kingbird, 
externally  made  of  interlaced  dead  twigs  of  the  cedar,  inter- 
nally of  the  wiry  stolons  of  the  common  cinquefoil,  dry  grass, 
and  some  fragments  of  branching  Lichen  or  Usnea.  It  con- 
tained 3  young  and  had  probably  4  eggs.  The  eggs  had  been 
hatched  about  the  20th  of  June,  so  that  the  pair  had  arrived  in 
this  vicinity  about  the  close  of  May. 

The  young  remained  in  the  nest  no  less  than  23  days,  and 
were  fed  from  the  first  on  beetles  and  perfect  insects,  which 
appeared  to  have  been  wholly  digested,  without  any  regurgi- 
tation. Towards  the  close  of  this  protracted  period  the  young 
could  fly  with  all  the  celerity  of  the  parents ;  and  they  prob- 
ably went  to  and  from  the  nest  repeatedly  before  abandoning 
it.  The  male  was  at  this  time  extremely  watchful,  and  fre- 
quently followed  me  from  his  usual  residence,  after  my  paying 
him  a  visit,  nearly  half  a  mile.     These  birds,  which  I  watched 


!  I 


412 


FLYCATCHERS. 


on  several  successive  days,  were  no  way  timid,  and  a"  .wed 
me  for  some  linir  previous  to  visiting  their  nest  to  investi^.  lo 
ihem  and  the  prtnases  tney  had  chosen,  without  showivjg  any 
u\^::  of  alarm  or  particular  observation. 

This  bird  appears  to  have  been  discovered  in  the  fur  coun- 
tries about  the  same  time  as  in  the  United  States.  According 
to  Dr.  Richardson,  the  specimen,  figured  so  spiritedly  in  the 
"  Northern  Zoology  of  Canada,"  was  shot  on  the  banks  of  the 
Saskatchewan  ?.s  it  was  flying  near  the  ground. 

In  1832,  about  the  middle  of  June,  the  same  pair  appar- 
ently had  again  taken  possession  of  a  small  juniper  not  more 
than  300  yards  from  the  tree  they  had  occupied  the  preceding 
year,  about  14  or  15  feet  up  which  they  had  fixed  their  thin 
twiggy  nest  as  in  the  preced'  ;  year.  It  contained  4  eggs,  on 
which  the  female  had  commenced  sitting ;  these,  except  in 
their  superior  size,  were  precisely  similar  with  those  of  the 
Wood  Pewee,  —  yellowish-cream  color,  with  dark-brown  and 
lavender-purple  spots,  rather  thinly  dispersed.  Being  unfortu- 
nate enough  to  shake  out  the  two  eggs  I  intended  to  leave  in 
the  nest,  the  pair  had  to  commence  their  labors  of  preparing 
for  a  progeny  anew ;  and  a  few  days  after,  a  second  nest  was 
made  in  another  Virginian  juniper  at  a  '^ry  short  distance 
from  the  preceding.  The  present  year,  however,  they  did  not 
return  to  their  accustomed  retreat,  and  no  individual  was  seen 
in  this  vicinity.  In  all  places  it  appears,  in  fact,  a  scarce  and 
widely  dispersed  species.  Audubon  has  since  observed  this 
bird  in  other  parts  of  Massachusetts  '  ine,  the  Magdalen 
Islands,  and  the  coast  of  Labrador,  ^^e  has  also  seen  it  in 
Georgia  and  in  Texas.  This  species  is  a  common  inhabitant 
of  the  dark  fir-woods  of  the  Columbia,  where  it  arrives 
towards  the  close  of  May.  We  again  heard,  at  intervals,  the 
same  curious  call,  like  'gh-phebeay  and  sometimes  like  the  gut- 
tural sound  ^egh-phebccy  commencing  with  a  sort  of  suppressed 
chuck  j  at  other  times  the  note  varied  into  a  lively  and  some- 
times quick  ft-dctoway.  This,  no  doubt,  is  the  note  attributed 
ry  Wilson  to  the  Wood  Pewee.  When  approached,  or  when 
c.ahing,  we  beard  the ////«///. 


«   \ 


CRESTED  FLYCATCHER. 


413 


T>i3  Olive-sided  Flycatcher  is  a  rare  summer  resident  in  tiie 
southern  portions  of  New  England,  hut  II  quite  cci,-imon  in 
Maine  and  New  Brunswick,  ard  ranges  north  to  about  the  50th 
parallel.     In  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes  it  ojcurs  but  rarely. 


CRESTED   FLYCATCHER. 

Myiarchus  crinitus. 

Char.  Upper  parts  olive,  inclined  to  brown  on  the  head ;  lower  parts 
bright  yellow,  excepting  throat  and  cheek,  which  are  dark  ash  ;  wings  and 
tail  dusky,  marked  with  rufous.     Head  crested.     Length  8>^  to  9  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  cavity  of  a  tree ;  of  twigs,  grass-roots,  feathers,  and  usually 
a  cast-off  snake-skin. 

Eggs.  4-6 ;  light  buffy  brown,  marked  with  lines  of  brown  and  purple ; 
0.8/  X  0.65. 

This  species,  nearly  unknown  in  New  England,  arrives  in 
Pennsylvania  early  in  May,  and  builds  his  nest  in  the  deserted 
holes  of  the  Woodpecker  or  Bluebird.  He  also  frequents  the 
orchard,  and  is  equally  fond  of  bees  with  the  Kingbird.  He 
has  no  other  note  than  a  harsh  squeak,  which  sounds  like  ^pa'ip, 
*paip,  payupy  'paytuip,  with  a  strong  accent  on  the  first  syl- 
lable. He  preys  actively  on  insects,  which  he  collects  from 
his  stand,  and,  in  short,  has  most  of  the  manners  and  physi- 
ognomy of  the  whole  section  or  family  to  which  he  belongs. 
The  note  of  the  male  appears  often  delivered  in  anger  and 
impatience,  and  he  defends  his  retreat  from  the  access  of  all 
other  birds  with  the  tyrannic  insolence  characteristic  of  the 
Kingbird. 

Towards  the  jnd  of  summer  these  birds  feed  on  berries  of 
various  kinds,  being  particularly  partial  to  pokeberries  and 
whortleberries,  which  for  a  time  seem  to  constitute  the  prin- 
cipal food  of  the  young.  They  remain  in  Pennsylvania  till  about 
the  middle  of  September,  when  they  retire  to  tropical  America. 
In  July,  1831, 1  observed  a  pair  in  an  orchard  at  Acton,  in  this 
State  (Massachusetts).  They  had  reared  a  brood  in  the  vicinity, 
and  still  appeared  very  stationary  on  the  premises ;  their  harsh 


i 


- 


414 


FLYC/iTCHERS. 


payup,  and  sometimes  a  sler^der  twittering,  as  they  took  the 
perch,  were  heard  almost  from  morn  to  night,  and  resembled 
at  first  the  chirp  of  a  young  Robin.  They  fed  on  the  cater- 
pillars or  vermin  of  some  kind  which  happened  to  infest  the 
apple-trees.  I  was  told  that  they  utter  a  different  and  more 
musical  note  about  sunrise  ;  but  of  this  I  cannot  speak  from  my 
own  knowledge.  They  are  unknown  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts.  According  to  Audubon,  they  are 
found  on  the  upper  Missouri  during  summer.  Many, also 
pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts  of  Florida.  They  also 
breed  in  Texas. 

This  species  is  common  in  the  Eastern  States  north  to  Connec- 
ticut and  northern  Ohio  and  in  southern  Ontario.  It  is  rare  in 
Massachusetts,  but  examples  have  been  observed  in  Maine  and 
New  Brunswick. 

Those  who  know  the  bird  best  say  it  has  the  courage  of  the 
Kingbird,  and  a  knack  of  quarrelling  that  is  all  its  own. 


i\ 


GRAY    KINGBIRD. 
Tyrinnus  dominice:   is. 

Char.  Very  similar  to  the  Kingbird,  but  of  paler  color ;  the  upper 
parts,  including  the  head,  beiiig  ashy  gray.  Its  size  is  somewhat  larger,  — 
about  an  inch  in  length. 

Nest.     In  a  tree  ;  composed  of  twigs,  lined  with  roots  or  moss. 

Eggs,  3-4;  white,  tinged  with  pale  buff  or  salmon  pink  and  spotted 
with  brown  and  purple  ;  i.oo  X  0.75, 

This  fine  tropical  species  was  discovered  by  Audubon  on 
the  Florida  Keys,  vhere  it  arrives  about  the  first  of  April,  and 
spreads  over  thv.  peninsula  as  far  as  Cape  Florida.  It  is  com- 
mon in  C'jb  I  and  several  other  of  the  West  India  islands. 
Stragglers,,  h  wevet.  rppear  to  wander  at  times  as  far  to  the 
north  as  So^'th  Carolina ;  a  pair  and  their  nest  having  been 
found  in  a  college  yii.u,  where  they  continued  to  return  for 
several  years  in  succession,  reanng  two  broods  in  a  season. 
Its  whole  demeanor  so  much  resembles  that  of  the  common 


: 


li  !  ! 


PHCEBE. 


415 


i 


Kingbird  that  but  for  its  superior  size  and  note  it  might  be 
mistaken  for  that  species. 

These  birds  flutter  while  flying,  and  sometimes  during  the 
breeding  season  the  pair,  crossing  each  other's  path,  rise  in 
spiral  evolutions,  loudly  twittering  as  they  ascend.  When 
interrupted,  alarmed  by  pursuit,  or  in  quest  of  insects,  they 
dart  off  with  great  velocity.  If  a  large  bird,  as  a  Heron  or 
Crow,  or  indeed  any  intruder,  pass  near  their  station,  they 
immediately  pursue  it,  and  that  often  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. At  the  same  time  they  appear  careless  of  the  approach 
of  man  except  when  the  nest  is  invaded,  when  they  fly  about 
in  great  anger,  snapping  their  bills  and  loudly  chattering ;  but 
when  relieved  from  their  unwelcome  visitors,  they  return  to 
their  stand  with  notes  of  exultation. 

Nuttall,  following  Audubon,  named  this  species  the  Pipiry  Fly- 
catcher. It  is  abundant  in  the  West  Indies  and  is  quite  common 
in  part.«  of  Florida,  but  occurs  at  no  other  locality  within  the  limits 
of  the  United  States  except  as  an  accidental  wanderer.  Examples 
have  been  taken  on  Long  Island  and  at  Lynn,  in  Massachusetts. 


PHCEBE. 

PEWEE.     PEWIT. 
Savornir  PHCKBE. 

Char.  Upper  jjarts  dull  olive  brown,  darker  on  head;  under  )iarts 
whitish,  changing  to  pale  yellow  on  belly,  and  brownish  on  flanks ;  wings 
and  tail  dusky,  outer  tail  feathers  and  wing  bar  whitish  ;  white  riu'j; 
around  the  eyes ;  bill  and  feet  black.  Head  with  inconspicuous  crest. 
Length  6%  to  7  inches. 

N('sf.  Attached  to  the  under-side  of  a  bridge,  or  to  a  rock,  or  the  side 
of  a  cave  ;  of  twigs,  roots,  and  moss,  cemented  with  mud,  lined  with  grass 
and  feathers. 

Ef^^s.    4-5  ;  white,  sometimes  speckled  with  pale  brown  ;  o  80  X  0.55. 

This  familiar  species  inhabits  the  continent  of  North  .Amer- 
ica from  Canada  and  Labrador  to  Texas,  retiring  from  the 
Northern  and  Middle  States  at  the  approach  of  winter.     How 


I 


i? 


t 
I, 

I. 


m 


M 


4i6 


FLYCATCHERS. 


far  they  proceed  to  the  South  at  this  season  is  not  satisfac- 
torily ascertained ;  a  few,  no  doubt,  winter  in  the  milder  parts 
of  the  Union,  as  Wilson  saw  them  in  February  in  the  swamps 
of  North  and  South  Carolina,  where  they  were  feeding  on 
smilax  berries,  and  occasionally  even  giving  their  well-known 
notes;  but  in  the  winter  and  early  spring  of  1830,  while  em- 
ployed in  an  extensive  pedestrian  journey  from  South  Carolina 
to  Florida  and  Alabama,  I  never  heard  or  met  with  an  individ- 
ual of  the  species.  Audubon  found  them  abundant  in  the 
Floridas  in  winter. 

These  faithful  messengers  of  spring  return  to  Pennsylvania  as 
early  as  the  first  week  in  March,  remain  till  October,  and 
sometimes  nearly  to  the  middle  of  November.  In  Massa- 
chusetts they  arrive  about  the  beginning  of  April,  and  at  first 
chiefly  frequent  the  woods. 

Their  favorite  resort  is  near  streams,  ponds,  or  stagnant 
waters,  about  bridges,  caves,  and  barns,  where  they  choose  to 
breed ;  and,  in  short,  wherever  there  is  a  good  prospect  for 
obtaining  their  insect  food.  Near  such  places  our  little  hunter 
sits  on  the  roof  of  some  out-building,  on  a  stake  of  the  fence, 
or  a  projecting  branch,  callii^g  out  at  short  intervals  and  in  a 
rapid  manner  phebe  phcbe,  and  at  times  in  a  more  plaintive 
tone  phee-bhee.  This  quaint  and  querulous  note,  occasionally 
approaching  to  a  warble,  sometimes  also  sounds  like  pewait 
pewaJ,  and  then  pe-iuat-ee,  also  pheb}  phe-bee-ee,  twice  alter- 
nated ;  the  latter  phrase  somewhat  soft  and  twittering.  In  the 
spring  this  not  unpleasing  guttural  warble  is  kept  up  for  hours 
together  until  late  in  the  morning,  and  though  not  loud,  may 
be  heard  to  a  considerable  distance.  From  a  roof  I  have 
heard  these  notes  full  half  a  mile  across  the  water  of  a  small 
lake ;  and  this  cheerful,  though  monotonous,  ditty  is  only  in- 
terrupted for  a  few  seconds  as  the  performer  darts  and  sweeps 
after  his  retreating  prey  of  flies,  frequently  flirting  and  quiver- 
ing his  tail  and  elevating  his  feathery  cap,  while  sharply 
watching  the  motions  of  his  fickle  game. 

In  the  Middle  States  he  begins  to  construct  his  nest  about 
the  latter  end  of  March,  in  Massachusetts  not  before  the  first 


PHCEI5E. 


417 


week  in  April.  The  nest  is  situated  under  a  bridge,  in  a  cave, 
the  side  of  a  well  5  or  6  feet  down,  under  a  shed,  or  in  the 
shelter  of  the  low  eaves  of  a  cottage,  and  even  in  an  empty 
kitchen ;  sometimes  it  rests  on  a  beam,  though  it  is  frequently 
attached  to  the  side  of  a  piece  of  roofing  timber  in  the  manner 
of  the  Swallow. 

According  to  the  touching  relation  of  Wilson,  this  humble 
and  inoffensive  bird  forms  conjugal  attachments  which  prob- 
ably continue  through  life ;  for,  like  the  faithful  Bluebirds, 
a  pair  continued  for  several  years  to  frequent  and  build  in  a 
romantic  cave  in  the  forest  which  made  part  of  the  estate  of 
the  venerable  naturalist,  William  Bartram.  Here  our  unfortu- 
nate birds  had  again  taken  up  their  welcome  lease  for  the 
summer,  again  chanted  forth  their  simple  lay  of  affection,  and 
cheered  my  aged  friend  with  the  certain  news  of  spring;  when 
unexpectedly  a  party  of  idle  boys,  one  fatal  Saturday,  de- 
stroyed with  the  gun  the  parents  of  this  old  and  peaceful 
settlement ;  and  from  that  time  forward  no  other  pair  were 
ever  seen  around  this  once  happy,  now  desolate  spot. 

Their  attachment  to  particular  places  is  indeed  remarkable. 
About  the  middle  of  April,  1831,  at  the  Fresh  Pond  Hotel,  in 
this  vicinity,  three  different  nests  were  begun  in  the  public 
boat-house,  which  may  be  here  considered  almost  as  a  thorough- 
fare. Only  one  nest,  however,  was  completed ;  and  we  could 
not  help  admiring  the  courage  and  devotedness  with  which 
the  parents  fed  their  young,  and  took  their  alternate  station 
by  the  side  of  the  nest,  undaunted  in  our  presence,  only  now 
and  then  uttering  a  '/ship  when  observed  too  narrowly.  Some 
ruffian  at  length  tore  down  the  nest  and  carried  off  the  brood ; 
but  our  Pewit  immediately  commenced  a  new  fabric,  laid  5 
additional  eggs  in  the  same  place  with  the  first,  and,  in  haste 
to  finish  her  habitation,  lined  it  with  the  silvery  shreds  of  a 
Manilla  rope  which  she  discovered  in  the  contiguous  loft 
over  the  boat-house.  For  several  previous  seasons  the  parents 
had  taken  up  their  abode  in  this  vicinity,  and  seemed  unwil- 
ling to  remove  from  the  neighborhood  they  had  once  chosen, 
in  si)ite  of  the  most  untoward  circumstances.     In  two  other 

VOL.    I.  —  C7 


1 1 1 


_ 

1 

n 

1 

;■■ 

I 

' 

418 


FLYCATCHERS. 


instances  I  have  known  a  pair,  when  the  nest  and  eggs  were 
taken  by  some  mischievous  boys,  commence  a  new  nest  in 
the  same  place,  and  laying  a  smaller  number  of  eggs,  raised 
a  second  brood.  In  one  of  those  nests,  under  a  bridge,  the 
insidious  Cowbird  had  also  dro])ped  her  parasitic  egg. 

Towards  the  time  of  their  departure  for  the  South,  which  is 
about  the  middle  of  October,  they  are  silent,  and  previously 
utter  their  notes  more  seldom,  as  if  mourning  the  decay  of 
Nature,  and  anticipating  the  approaching  famine  which  now 
urges  their  migration.  In  the  Middle  States  they  raise  two 
broods  in  the  season ;  but  in  Massachusetts  the  Pewit  rarely 
raises  more  than  a  single  brood,  unless,  as  in  the  instance  re- 
lated, they  have  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  the  first  hatch. 
The  young,  dispersed  through  the  woods  in  small  numbers, 
may  now  and  then  be  heard  to  the  close  of  September  exer- 
cising their  feeble  voices  in  a  guttural  p/iSt:  But  the  old  birds 
are  almost  wholly  silent,  or  but  little  heard,  as  they  flit  timidly 
through  the  woods,  when  once  released  from  the  cares  of  rear- 
ing their  infant  brood ;  so  that  here  the  Phoebe's  note  is  almost 
a  concomitant  of  spring  and  the  mildest  opening  of  summer,  — 
it  is,  indeed,  much  more  vigorous  in  April  and  May  than  at 
any  succeeding  period. 

The  Phoebe  is  an  uncommon  bird  in  the  Maritime  Provinces, 
but  more  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Montreal  and  westward  to 
Western  Ontario,  and  in  all  the  Eastern  States.  It  winters  in 
the  Gulf  States  as  well  as  in  Cuba  and  Mexico. 


Note.  —  Mr.  G.  S.  Miller,  Jr.,  captured  on  Cape  Cod,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1889,  an  example  of  Sav's  Phcebe  {Sayornis  saya),  the  first 
that  has  been  taken  to  the  eastward  of  the  Great  Plains. 


WOOD   PEWEE. 


419 


WOOD    PEWEE. 

CONTOPUS  VIRENS. 


Char.  Upper  parts  olive  brown,  darker  on  the  head ;  lower  parts 
whitish,  with  dull  yellow  tinge;  sides  pale  olive,  extending  across  the 
breast ;  tail  and  wings  dusky ;  wings  with  bars  of  whitish.  Head  with 
inconspicutuis  crest.     Length  6  to  6j4  inches. 

AV.v/.  '  )n  branch  of  a  tree ;  of  twigs  and  grass,  covered  exteriorly 
with  lichens  and  lined  with  moss. 

^.K'A''^-  3~4;  creamy  white  with  spots  of  brown  and  lilac  wreathed 
about  the  larger  end;  0.75  X  7.55. 

This  species  has  much  the  appearance  of  the  common  Pewit 
Flycatcher,  but  differs  essentially  by  its  note  and  habits.  The 
Wood  Pewee  appears  generally  to  winter  south  of  the  United 
States,  and  srnrcely  arrives  in  Pennsylvania  or  New  England 
before  the  middle  of  May ;  its  migrations,  in  all  probability, 
extend  to  Canada.  According  to  Audubon,  many  of  them 
winter  in  the  southern  extremity  of  the  United  States,  and  Mr. 
Townsend  and  myself  frequently  saw  them  in  the  dark  forests 
of  the  Oregon.  It  is  a  solitary  species,  frequenting  gloomy 
forests  and  dark  orchards,  where,  watching  on  some  dead  and 
projecting  branch  for  its  insect  prey,  it  sweeps  at  intervals 
amidst  the  shade,  and  the  occasional  snapping  of  its  bill  an- 
nounces the  success  of  its  flight.  It  then  again  alights  as 
before,  sometimes  uttering  a  sort  of  gratulatory  low  twitter, 
accompanied  by  ;i  quivering  of  the  wings  and  tail ;  and  in  the 
lapse  of  its  employment,  in  a  feeble,  sighing  tone,  often  cries 
pee-wee  or  pee-Cy  and  sometimes  pe-wee  pewittitee  or  pewittee 
pe-wee.  This  note  is  continued  often  till  quite  late  in  the 
evening,  at  which  time  many  of  the  insect  brood  and  moths 
are  abundant.  Most  of  these  birds,  indeed,  appear  capable  of 
collecting  their  food  by  the  feeblest  light,  the  only  season  when 
some  of  their  favorite  prey  ever  stir  abroad.  This  species  also 
appears  particularly  fond  of  small  wild  bees.  From  June  to 
September,  its  solitary  notes  are  heard  in  the  field  and  forest ; 
after  which  time,  preparing  for  its  departure,  and  intently  glean- 
ing food  in  every  situation,  it  sometimes  approaches  the  city, 


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420 


FLYCATCHERS. 


often  examines  the  courts  and  gardens,  at  the  same  time  feed- 
ing and  training  its  young  to  the  habits  of  their  subsistence, 
and  about  the  first  week  in  October  it  retires  south  to  pass  the 
winter. 

The  Pewee  is  a  very  expert  and  cautious  flycatcher ;  and  as 
if  aware  of  the  drowsiness  of  insects  in  the  absence  of  the  sun's 
broad  hght,  he  is  on  the  alert  at  day-dawn  after  his  prey.  At 
this  early  period,  and  often  in  the  dusk  of  evening,  for  the  most 
part  of  summer  till  the  middle  of  August,  he  serenades  the 
neighborhood  of  his  mansion  from  3  to  4  or  5  o'clock  in  che 
morning,  with  an  almost  uninterrupted  chanting  ditty,  sweet, 
but  monotonous,  like  pe-ay  pay-wee,  pe-ay  pay-wee,  then  in  a 
little  higher  and  less  sing-song  tone,  his  usual  and  more  serious 
pee-d-wee.  In  dark  and  damp  mornings  this  curious  warble  is 
sometimes  continued  nearly  to  8  o'clock ;  and  the  effect  of 
this  tender,  lulling  lay  in  the  gray  dawn,  before  the  awakening 
of  other  birds,  and  their  mingling  chorus,  is  singular  and  pecu- 
liarly pleasing.  It  is  a  gratulatory  feeling  of  unmixed  and 
placid  delight,  concomitant  with  the  mild  reviving  light  of  the 
opening  day  and  the  perfect  joy  of  the  mated  male,  satisfied  in 
every  reasonable  desire,  —  in  short,  a  hymn  of  praise  to  the 
benevolent  Author  and  Supporter  of  existence  ! 

Towards  the  period  of  departure  they  become  wholly  silent ; 
and  driven  to  extremity,  they  may  now  be  seen  watching  the 
stagnant  pools  and  ponds,  dipping  occasionally  into  the  still 
surface  after  their  drowsy  and  languid  prey.  Like  the  King- 
bird, this  species  at  times  displays  a  tyrannical  disposition  ;  and 
I  have  observed  one  to  chase  a  harmless  Sparrow  to  the  ground 
for  safety,  who  merely  by  inadvertence  happened  to  approach 
the  station  he  had  temporarily  chosen  for  collecting  his  insect 
game. 

The  notes  of  peto-way  peto-wdy  pee-way  are  never  uttered 
by  this  species;  but  on  the  12th  of  February,  1830,  in  Ala- 
bama, I  "heard,  at  that  season,  a  bird  uttering  this  note,  and 
several  times  afterwards  I  saw  a  rather  large  and  dark  Fly- 
catcher in  the  pine  woods,  to  which  I  it-ributed  this  call,  and 
which  must  be  a  distinct  species,  as  its  notes  bear  no  resem- 


L 


LEAST  FLYCATCHER. 


421 


i« 


blance  to  those  of  the  Wood  Pewee,  —  at  this  season  probably 
in  South  America. 

The  Pewee,  I  believe,  raises  here  but  a  single  brood,  which 
are  not  abroad  before  the  middle  of  July.  The  nest  is  ex- 
tremely neat  and  curious,  almost  universally  saddled  upon  an 
old  moss-grown  and  decayed  limb  in  an  horizontal  position, 
and  is  so  remarkably  shallow,  and  incorporated  upon  the 
branch,  as  to  be  very  easily  overlooked.  The  body  of  the 
fabric  consists  of  wiry  grass  or  root-fibres,  often  blended  with 
small  branching  lichens,  held  together  with  cobwebs  and  cat- 
erpillar's silk,  moistened  with  saliva ;  externally  it  is  so  coated 
over  with  bluish  crustaceous  lichens  as  to  be  hardly  discernible 
from  the  moss  upon  the  tree.  It  is  lined  with  finer  root-fibres 
or  slender  grass  stalks.  Some  nests  are,  however,  scarcely 
lined  at  all,  being  so  thin  as  readily  to  admit  the  light  through 
them,  and  are  often  ve  '  sy,  with  a  species  of  acarus  which 
probably  infests  the  ola  birds. 

The  plaintive  and  almost  pathetic  note  of  the  Wood  Pewee  is  a 
familiar  sound  amid  the  orchards  of  New  Brunswick,  and  the  bird 
is  of  common  occurrence  through  Quebec  and  Ontario.  It  winters 
southward  to  Mexico  and  Guatemala. 


LEAST   FLYCATCHER. 

CHEBEC. 

Empidonax  minimus. 

Char.  Upper  parts  olive  ;  lower  parts  white,  tinged  with  yellow ; 
wings  with  two  bars  of  grayish  white.     Length  5  to  5^  inches. 

Ne^t.  On  fork  of  a  tree;  of  twigs  and  grass,  lined  with  grass  or 
feathers. 

Eggs.    3-5 ;  creamy  white,  usually  unspotted  ;  0.65  X  0.50. 

This  is  one  of  our  most  common  summer  birds  in  this  part 
of  New  England,  arriving  from  the  South  about  the  last  week 
in  April,  and  leaving  us  to  retire  probably  to  tropical  America 
about  the  beginning  of  September  or  sometimes  a  little  later. 
It  also  extends  its  migrations  to  Labrador  and  the  Oregon 


422 


FLYCATCHERS. 


Territory,  and  seems  most  abundant  in  the  Northern  and 
Eastern  States.  Though,  like  the  preceding,  these  are  soUtary, 
retiring  birds,  and  fond  of  the  shade  of  the  forest,  yet  in  this 
vicinity  their  nests  are  numerous.  On  their  first  arrival,  pre- 
vious to  pairing,  they  are  engaged  in  constant  quarrels  about 
their  mates,  and  often  molest  other  birds  whom  they  happen  to 
see  employed  in  pursuit  of  the  same  kind  of  food  with  them- 
selves. Like  the  preceding  species,  they  take  their  station  on 
a  low  branch  to  reconnoitre  the  passing  insects  on  which  they 
feed,  and  from  time  to  time  make  a  circular  sweep  for  their 
prey.  When  seated,  they  utter  very  frequently  a  sharp,  un- 
pleasant squeak,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  the  Kingbird, 
sounding  like  guedh,  and  sometimes  ^ish'ah,  or  tsheah,  tshedh, 
and  tshooe,  with  a  guttmral,  snapping  sound,  succeeded  by  a 
kind  of  querulous,  lov  twitter  uttered  as  they  fly  from  tree  to 
tree,  and  chiefly  at  the  instant  of  alighting.  At  other  times 
they  have  a  recognizing,  rather  low  call  of  'wA/V,  ^whit,  re- 
peated at  short  intervals ;  again,  in  the  warmest  weather,  I 
have  heard  one  of  these  Pewees  call  something  like  the  whist- 
ling of  ^weet,  ^wee/,  'weef,  ''will.  Occasionally,  wl.  jn  fighting 
or  in  flying,  it  also  makes  an  echoing  tshirr.  It  possesses  all 
the  habits  of  the  Kingbird,  catches  bees,  flies,  and  moths,  ex- 
hibits a  variety  of  quivering  motions,  and  defends  its  nest  with 
great  courage  against  the  approach  of  larger  birds. 

The  nest  of  the  Small  Pewee  is  usually  fixed  in  the  slender, 
upright  forks  of  a  young  forest  tree  from  6  to  20  or  30  feet 
from  the  ground.  I  have  also  found  the  nests  on  the  horizon- 
tal branch  of  an  apple-tree  or  forest  tree.  In  most  instances 
in  the  woods  a  gloomy,  solitary  situation  is  chosen.  The  mate- 
rials of  this  fabric  vary  according  to  circumstances ;  for  the 
first  brood  a  very  soft  and  warm  nest  is  usually  made  of  dry 
grass,  willow,  and  cud-weed  down  in  large  quantities,  partly 
felted  or  matted  together  externally  with  the  saliva  of  the 
bird.  Common  tow,  if  convenient,  is  also  occasionally  em- 
ployed when  the  nest  is  in  an  apple-tree,  for  which  some  neigh- 
boring graft  is  probably  unravelled.  The  interior  is  usually 
formed  of  slender,  narrow  strips  o'"  bark,  bass,  and  dry  grass  ; 


\ 


\- 


LEAST   FLYCATCHER. 


423 


\ 


the  lining  is  commonly  of  fine  root-fibres,  slender  tops  of  bent 
grass,  and  at  times  a  few  hairs  and  feathers.  Occasionally  the 
principal  external  material  consists  of  strips  or  strings  of  silk- 
weed  lint  and  the  bark  of  the  common  virgin's  bovver.  The 
nest  is  extremely  neat  and  uniform,  resembling  a  complete 
hemisphere.  As  nests  may  be  found  late  in  July,  it  is 
probable  they  have  a  second  brood  in  the  course  of  the 
season.  They  are  extremely  attached  to  their  offspring,  and 
keep  up  an  incessant,  almost  choking  tsheah  tshecth  when 
any  person  approaches  the  tree  where  they  have  their 
brood.  The  young  and  old  now  move  about  in  company, 
and  at  this  time  feed  on  various  kinds  of  berries,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  cornel  and  whortleberry.  At  length  the 
young  are  seen  to  select  each  other's  society,  and  rove  about 
without  any  fixed  resort,  previous  to  their  gradual  departure. 
A  pair,  probably  of  the  same  brood,  still  lingered  here  in  Sep- 
tember, and  like  the  little  Parrots  called  Inseparable,  appeared 
fondly  to  cherish  each  other's  company.  It  was  toward  even- 
ing when  I  saw  them,  and  at  first  they  appeared  inclined  to 
roost  in  the  shady  willow-tree  in  which  they  had  alighted.  They 
nestled  close  to  each  other  with  looks  and  notes  of  tenderness 
and  affection ;  wherever  one  went,  the  other  instantly  followed, 
and  the  same  branch  contained  the  same  contented  pair. 

Nuttall  followed  Wilson  in  the  mistake  of  supposing  this  species 
and  acadicus  to  be  identical,  and  in  his  account  has  mingled  the 
biographies  of  the  two.  The  latter  is  more  southern  in  its  distri- 
bution. "  Chebec  "  is  a  common  summer  resident  from  southern 
New  England  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  westward  to  the 
prairies.     It  winters  south  to  Panama. 


% 


L 


TRAILL'S    FLYCATCHER. 
Empidonax  pusillus  traillii. 

Char.  Upper  parts  olive  brown,  darker  on  '.he  head,  lighter  on  the 
Tump ;  under  parts  whitish,  the  sides  tinged  with  pale  olive,  which  ex- 
tends nearly  across  the  breast,  the  belly  tinged  with  yellow;  wings  dusky, 
with  yellowish  white  bars.     Length  5%  to  6  inches. 

Nest.  On  an  upright  fork  in  a  clump  of  alders  or  low  deciduous  tree, 
I  to  8  feet  from  the  ground ;  composed  of  grass  roots  or  hempen  fibre, 
lined  usually  with  fine  grass,  sometimes  with  horse-hair  or  thistle-down. 

^SS^-  3~4 ;  creamy  white  or  buff,  boldly  spotted  with  light  and  dark 
brown  chiefly  about  the  larger  end  ;  0.70  X  0.53. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  last,  was  first  distin- 
guished by  Audubon.  Its  note  resembles  the  syllable  ^wheet, 
^wheet,  articulated  clearly  while  in  the  act  of  flying.  It  was 
first  observed  on  the  wooded  skirts  of  the  prairies  along  the 
banks  of  the  Arkansas.  Mr.  Townsend  and  myself  observed  it 
in  various  places  in  the  skirts  of  the  forests  of  the  Columbia 
and  Wahlamet  during  the  summer,  when  it  was  breeding,  but 
we  could  not  discover  the  nest.  Its  motions  are  thus  de- 
scribed by  Audubon  :  "  When  leaving  the  top  branches  of  a 
low  tree  this  bird  takes  long  flights,  skimming  in  zig-zag  lines, 
passing  close  over  the  tops  of  the  tall  grasses,  snapping  at  and 
seizing  different  species  of  winged  insects,  and  returning  to  the 
same  trees  to  alight." 

Traill's  Flycatcher  is  chiefly  a  spring  and  autumn  migrant 
through  southern  New  England,  though  a  few  pairs  breed  as  far 


ACADIAN   FLYCATCHER. 


425 


south  as  Long  Island.  It  is  a  common  summer  resident  of  Maine 
and  of  the  northern  part  of  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire.  It  is 
common  also  in  New  Brunswick.  West  of  this  region  it  breeds 
farther  to  the  southward,  being  common  in  the  middle  of  Ohio  and 
in  southern  Illinois  and  Missouri.  Mr.  Mcllwraith  considers  it 
uncommon  in  Ontario. 

There  has  been  considerable  discussion  over  the  breeding  habits 
of  this  species,  caused  by  the  difference  in  habits  of  the  Western 
birds  from  those  which  breed  near  the  Atlantic.  Here  the  favorite 
site  is  a  clump  of  alders  near  a  lunning  stream,  and  the  nest  is 
placed  within  a  foot  or  two  of  the  ground;  while  in  the  West  a 
small  tree  is  generally  selected,  —  sometimes  an  oak,  —  and  the  nest 
is  placed  as  high  as  ten  feet.  The  nest,  in  the  West,  is  not  so  com- 
pactly or  neatly  made,  and  the  materials  are  coarser.  The  note  of 
this  bird  —  for  while  the  Flycatchers  are  not  classed  with  the 
Oscines,  or  Singing-Birds,  they  add  not  a  little  to  our  forest  melo- 
dies —  is  peculiar,  though  strictly  of  the  family  type.  It  sounds 
something  like  ke-wink  delivered  with  a  rising  inflection  and  the 
accent  on  the  final  sound,  which  is  prolonged,  — quite  a  different 
note  from  the  abrupt  chebec  of  minimus.  I  have  never  heard  the 
song  uttered  on  the  wing;  but  when  the  bird  is  perching,  the 
head  is  tossed  back  and  the  note  is  flimg  out  with  a  decided 
emphasis  of  manner  as  well  as  of  voice. 


W. 


ACADIAN    FLYCATCHER. 

Empidonax  acadicus. 

Char.  Upper  parts  olive,  slightly  darker  on  crown;  under  parts 
whitish,  the  sides  tinged  with  pale  olive,  which  reaches  almost  across  the 
breast;  belly  tinged  with  pale  yellow;  wings  and  tail  dusky;  wing-bars 
biuiy.     Length  5^  to  6  inches. 

Nest.  In  a  tree,  suspended  on  fork  of  twigs  at  the  extremity  of  a  low 
limb  ;  rather  loosely  made  of  moss  or  grasses  and  shreds  of  bark  bound 
with  spider's  webbing. 

Eggs.  2-4;  buff  or  creamy  white,  spotted,  chiefly  about  the  larger  end, 
with  reddish  brown  ;  0.75  X  0.55. 

The  older  writers  had  rather  confused  ideas  regarding  these 
small  Flycatchers,  and  Nuttall  supposed  he  was  writing  of  the 
present  species,  when  the  bird  he  had  in  mind  was  minimus. 

The  Acadian  Flycatcher  belongs  to  the  Middle  States  rather 
than  to  New  England,  and  has  never  been  taken  north  of  the 


■It  f--jA^fc.;^iAal-'<& 


426 


FLYCATCHERS. 


Connecticut  valley.     It  is  abundant  in  Ohio  and  Illinois,  but  has 
not  been  observed  in  Ontario. 

I  have  not  met  with  this  species  in  the  field,  but  those  who  have 
been  so  fortunate  describe  it  as  a  shy  bird,  seeking  the  low,  moist 
thicket  and  shaded  groves  rather  than  the  open  pastures.  Dr. 
Coues  thinks  the  nest  "may  be  compared  to  a  light  hammock 
swung  between  forks."  It  is  shallow  and  saucer-shaped,  and  so 
loosely  made  that  the  eggs  may  be  seen  from  below.  Dr.  Wheaton 
states  that  so  much  loose  grass  is  left  on  the  outside  of  the  nest 
"  that  it  looks  like  a  tuft  of  hay  caught  by  the  limb  from  a  load 
driven  under  it." 


t 


YELLOW-BELLIED   FLYCATCHER. 

Empidonax  flaviventris. 

Char.  Upper  parts  dull  olive,  darker  on  the  crown ;  under  parts 
bright  yellow,  shaded  with  olive  on  the  breast ;  wing-bars  pale  yellow  ;  a 
yellow  ring  around  the  eye.     Length  5H  to  6  inches. 

Nest.  Amid  moss-covered  roots  of  upturned  iree  or  mossy  log ;  of 
twigs,  or  vegetable  fibre,  or  moss,  lined  with  roots,  or  fine  grass,  or 
moss. 

^SS^'  4 ;  pale  buf¥,  sparingly  spotted,  mostly  ahout  larger  end,  with 
reddish  brown ;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  species  was  discovered  about  1843,  ^^^  for  many  years  —  as 
late  as  1880  —  was  considered  a  rare  bird.  Even  now  coMpar- 
atively  few  persons  are  familiar  with  it,  though  it  occurs  through- 
out this  Eastern  Province.  It  is  common  in  New  England, 
breeding  in  the  northern  portion,  and  occurs  on  the  highe.  hills 
elsewhere.  I  found  it  abundant  in  New  Brunswick,  and  it  has 
been  traced  northward  to  the  lower  Hudson  Bay  region.  Macoun 
reports  it  common  at  Lake  Mistissini. 

Dr.  Wh  ^aton  considered  it  a  common  migrant  through  Ohio,  but 
observers  in  Ontario  have  met  with  it  so  seldom  as  to  think  it  rare. 
It  is  common  in  Illinois  and  in  portions  of  Manitoba. 

The  notes  of  this  species  have  caused  much  discussion,  —  some 
writers  claiming  for  it  an  individuality,  and  others  insisting  that  it 
utters  nothing  different  trom  the  notes  of  trailliiox  minimus.  The 
kil-lic  of  flaviventris  seems,  to  my  ear,  quite  different  from  the 
ke-wink  of  Traill's, — which  is  rather  sibilant,  and  is  delivered 
with  a  rising  inflection,  —  as  also  from  the  che-bec  of  the  Least 
Flycatcher.    While  the  latter  delivers  his  two  notes  in  rapid  stac- 


1 


YELLOW-BELLIED  FLYCATCHER. 


427 


t 


cato,  and  makes  more  or  less  pause  after  each  couplet,  the  Yellow- 
bellied  whisths  four  notes,  kil-lic  kil-iic,  with  but  a  short  pause  — 
a  mere  rest  —  between  each  pair,  and  delivers  the  notes  with  a 
trifle  less  abruptness. 

Other  notes  of  the  present  species  resemble  pea  and  pe-we-yea. 
These  are  heard  when  a  pair  are  in  close  companionship.  They 
are  soft,  sweet,  cooing-notes,  delivered  in  a  plaintive  tone  that 
suggests  the  tender  pathos  of  the  Pewee's. 


Note.  —  The  Fork-tailed  Flycatcher  {Milvulus  tyrannus), 
a  bird  of  Central  and  South  America,  has  occasionally  wandered 
north,  and  been  taken  in  Mississippi,  Kentucky,  and  New  Jersey. 

Also  a  few  examples  of  the  Scissor-tailed  Flycatcher 
(^Milvulus  forficatus),  which  rarely  appears  north  or  easi  of  Texas, 
have  been  seen  in  Virginia,  New  Jersey,  Connecticut,  Ontario,  and 
Manitoba,  and  one  wandered  to  the  shores  of  Hui'son  Bay. 


\ 


f' 


•• 


^' 


CAROLINA   PAROQUET. 

CAROLINA   PARROT.    PARAKEET. 
CONURUS   CAROLINEN'SIS. 

Char.  Head  and  neck  yellow  ;  forehead  and  sides  of  head  orange 
red  ;  body  and  tail  green,  the  belly  linged  with  yellow ;  wings  green  and 
yellow,  the  edges  tinged  with  orange  red.  In  immature  specimens  the 
yellow  of  head  and  neck  is  replaced  by  green.     Length  about  13  inches. 

Nest.  In  dense  woods  or  cypress  swamp ;  placed  on  a  fork  near  the 
end  of  a  branch  or  in  a  hole  in  a  tree.  When  on  a  bran  h  it  is  made  of 
cypress  twigs  loosely  woven,  and  a  nest  in  a  hole  is  usually  lined  with 
cypress  twigs.  When  abundant  the  birds  generally  build  in  large  colonies. 

Eggs.     2-5  (?) ;  greenish  white  or  creamy;  1.40  X  1.05. 

Of  more  than  200  species  now  known  to  belong  to  this 
remarkable  and  brilliant  genus,  the  present  is  the  only  one 
found  inhabiting  the  United  States ;  it  is  also  restricted  to  the 
warmer  parts,  rarely  venturing  beyond  the  State  of  Virginia. 
West  of  the  AUeghanies,  however,  circumstances  induce  these 
birds  commonly  to  visit  much  higher  latitudes ;    so  that,  fol- 


CAROLINA  PAROQUET. 


429 


lowing  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  they  are  seen  to 
frequent  the  banko  of  the  Illinois,  and  occasionally  to  approach 
the  southern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan.  Straggling  parties 
even  have  sometimes  been  seen  in  the  valley  of  the  Juniata  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  a  flock,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  Dutch 
inhabitants  of  Albany,  are  said  to  have  appeared  in  that  vicin- 
ity. They  constantly  inhabit  and  breed  in  the  Southern  States, 
and  are  so  far  hardy  as  to  make  their  appearance,  commonly 
in  the  depth  of  winter,  along  the  woody  banks  of  the  Ohio, 
the  interior  of  Alabama,  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  around  St.  Louis,  and  other  places,  when  nearly  all 
other  birds  have  migrated  before  the  storms  of  the  season. 

The  Carolina  Parrakeets  in  all  their  movements,  which  are 
uniformly  gregarious,  show  a  peculiar  predilection  for  the  allu- 
vial, rich,  and  dark  forests  bordering  the  principal  rivers  and 
larger  streams,  in  which  the  towering  cypress  and  gigantic 
sycamore  spread  their  vast  summits,  or  stretch  their  innumer- 
able arms  over  a  wide  waste  of  moving  or  stagnant  waters. 
From  these,  the  beech,  and  tne  hack-berry,  they  derive  an 
important  supply  of  food.  The  flocks,  moving  in  the  manner 
of  wild  Pigeons,  dart  in  swift  and  airy  phalanx  through  the 
green  boughs  of  the  forest ;  screaming  in  a  general  concert,  they 
wheel  in  wide  and  descending  circles  round  the  tall  button- 
wood,  and  all  alight  at  the  same  instant,  their  green  vesture, 
like  the  fairy  mantle,  rendering  them  nearly  invisible  beneath 
the  shady  branches,  where  they  sit  perhaps  arranging  their 
plumage  and  shuffling  side  by  side,  seeming  to  caress  and 
scratch  each  other's  heads  with  all  the  fondness  and  unvarying 
friendship  of  affectionate  Doves.  If  the  gun  thin  their  ranks 
they  hover  over  the  screaming,  wounded,  or  dying,  and  return- 
ing and  flying  around  the  place  where  they  miss  their  compan- 
ions, in  their  sympathy  seem  to  lose  all  idea  of  impending 
danger.  When  more  fortunate  in  their  excursions,  they  next 
proceed  to  gratify  the  calls  of  hunger,  and  descend  to  the 
banks  of  the  river  or  the  neighboring  fields  in  quest  of  the 
inviting  kernels  of  the  cockle-burr,  and  probably  of  the  bitter- 
weed,  which  they  extract  from  their  husks  with  great  dexterity. 


I: 


430 


PARROTS. 


In  the  depth  of  winter,  when  other  resources  begin  to  fail, 
they,  in  common  with  the  Yellow  Bird  and  some  other 
Finches,  assemble  among  the  tall  sycamores,  and  hanging 
from  the  extreme  twigs  in  the  most  airy  and  graceful  postures, 
scatter  around  them  a  cloud  of  down  from  the  pendant  balls 
in  quest  of  the  seeds,  which  now  afford  them  an  ample  repast. 
With  that  peculiar  caprice,  or  perhaps  appetite,  which  char- 
acterizes them,  they  are  also  observed  to  frequent  the  saline 
springs  or  licks  to  gratify  their  uncommon  taste  for  salt.  Out 
of  mere  wantonness  they  often  frequent  the  orchards,  and 
appear  delighted  with  the  fruitless  frolic  of  plucking  apples 
from  the  trees  and  strewing  them  on  the  ground  untasted. 
So  common  is  this  practice  among  them  in  Arkansas  Territory 
that  no  apples  are  ever  suffered  to  ripen.  They  are  also  fond 
of  some  sorts  of  berries,  and  particularly  of  mulberries,  which 
they  eat  piecemeal  in  their  usual  manner  as  they  hold  them  by 
the  foot.  According  to  Audubon,  they  likewise  attack  the 
outstanding  stacks  of  grain  in  flocks,  committing  great  waste  ; 
and  on  these  occasions,  as  well  as  the  former,  they  are  so 
bold  or  incautious  as  readily  to  become  the  prey  of  the  sports- 
man in  great  numbers.  Peculiarity  of  food  appears  wholly  to 
influence  the  visits  and  residence  of  this  bird,  and  in  plain, 
champaign,  or  mountainous  countries  they  are  wholly  strangers, 
though  common  along  the  banks  of  all  the  intermediate 
watercourses  and  lagoons. 

Of  their  manners  at  the  interesting  period  of  propagation 
and  incubation  we  are  not  yet  satisfactorily  informed.  They 
nest  in  hollow  trees  and  take  little  if  any  pains  to  provide  more 
than  a  simple  hollow  in  which  to  lay  their  eggs,  like  the  Wood- 
peckers. They  are  at  all  times  particularly  attached  to  the 
large  sycamores,  in  the  hollow  trunks  of  which  they  roost  in 
close  community,  and  enter  at  the  same  aperture  into  which 
they  climb.  They  are  said  to  cling  close  to  the  sides  of  the 
tree,  holding  fast  by  the  clawy  and  bill ;  and  into  these  hollows 
they  often  retire  during  the  day,  either  in  very  warm  or  incle- 
ment weather,  to  sleep  or  pass  away  the  time  in  indolent  and 
social  security,  like  the  Rupicoias  of  the  Peruvian  caves,  at 


J 


I 

s 
s 

r 


CAROLINA  PAROQUET. 


431 


length  only  hastily  aroused  to  forage  at  the  calls  of  hunger. 
Indeed,  from  the  swiftness  and  celerity  of  their  aerial  move- 
ments, dartmg  through  the  gleaming  sunshine  like  so  many 
sylvan  cherubs  decked  in  green  and  gold,  it  is  obvious  that 
their  actions  as  well  as  their  manners  are  not  calculated  for 
any  long  endurance ;  and  shy  and  retiring  from  all  society  but 
that  to  which  they  are  inseparably  wedded,  they  rove  abroad 
with  incessant  activity  until  their  wants  are  gratified,  when,  hid 
from  sight,  they  again  relapse  into  that  indolence  which  seems 
a  lelief  to  their  exertions. 

The  Carolina  Parrot  is  readily  tamed,  and  early  shows  an 
attachment  to  those  around  who  bestow  any  attention  on  its 
wants ;  it  soon  learns  to  recollect  its  name  and  to  answer  and 
come  when  called  on.  It  does  not,  however,  evince  much,  if 
any,  capacity  for  mimicking  human  speech  or  sounds  of  any 
kind,  and  as  a  domestic  is  very  peaceable  and  rather  taciturn. 
It  is  extremely  fond  of  nuts  and  almonds,  and  may  be  sup- 
ported on  the  vegetable  food  usually  given  to  other  species. 
One  which  I  saw  at  Tuscaloosa,  a  week  after  being  disabled  in 
the  wing,  seemed  perfectly  reconciled  to  its  domestic  condi- 
tion ;  and  as  the  weather  was  rather  cold,  it  remained  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  in  the  house,  climbing  up  the  sides  of 
the  wire  fender  to  enjoy  the  warmth  of  the  fire.  I  was  in- 
formed that  when  first  caught  it  scaled  the  side  of  the  room 
at  night,  and  roosted  in  a  hanging  posture  by  the  bill  and 
claws ;  but  finding  the  labor  difficult  and  fruitless,  having  no 
companion  near  which  to  nestle,  it  soon  submitted  to  pass  the 
night  on  the  back  of  a  chair. 

I  fear  that  the  story  of  this  gorgeously  apparalled  bird  is  nearly 
finished.  It  is  not  quite  exterminated  yet,  but  of  the  )arge  flocks 
that  were  once  to  be  seen  all  over  the  Southern  States,  only  a  mere 
remnant  can  be  found,  and  these  are  hidden  amid  the  dense 
swamps  of  central  Florida  and  along  the  lower  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. The  farmers  and  fruit-growers  were  obliged  to  kill  large 
numbers,  and  later  woman's  vanity  and  man's  greed  have  joined 
hands  to  carry  on  the  slaughter.  From  the  combined  attack  of 
such  foes  the  remnant  has  but  slight  chance  for  escape. 


'i 


YELLOW-BILLFD   CUCKOO. 

RAIN   CROW. 
COCCYZL/S   AMERICANUS. 

Char.  Upper  mandible  and  tip  of  lo'ver,  black;  rest  of  lower  mandi- 
ble and  cutting  tdges  of  upper,  yellow.  Upper  parts  olive,  with  a  slight 
metallic  gloss,  tinged  with  ash  toward  the  bill ;  wings  tinged  with  rufous; 
middle  feathers  of  tail  like  back,  remainder  black  tipped  with  white; 
beneath,  white  or  creamy.     Length  about  12  inches. 

N."t.  In  a  thicket  by  the  side  of  a  stream  or  on  the  border  of  a 
swamp  ;  placed  in  a  bush  or  low  tree.  A  flat,  frail  affair  made  of  twigs 
loosely  laid,  sometimes  lined  with  br.rk  strips  or  grass. 

Eggs.     2-6  (usually  4)  ;  pale  dull  green  or  bluish  green;  1,25  X  0.90. 

The  American  Cuckoo  arrives  in  the  middle  and  colder 
States  of  the  Union  about  the  close  of  April  or  the  first  week 
of  May,  and  proceeds  to  the  north  as  far  as  Nova  Scotia. 
It  probably  winters  in  Mexico,  and  individuals  pass  no  farther 
than  the  forests  of  Louisiana.  We  also  met  with  it  in  the 
remote  Territory  of  Oregon.  Latham  speaks  of  these  birds 
also  as  inhabitants  of  the  tropical  island  of  Jamaica.  They 
delight  in  the  shady  retirement  of  the  forest,  and  are  equally 
common  in  tall  thickets  and  orchards,  where,  like  piratical 
prowlers,  Vney  skulk  and  hide  among  the  thickest  boughs ;  and 
althou^li,  unlike  the  European  Cuckoo,  they  are  faithfully  paired, 
yet  the  pair  are  seldom  seen  in  the  same  tree,  but,  shy  and 
watchful,  endeavor  to  elude  everything  like  close  observation. 


YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 


433 


The  male,  however,  frequently  betrays  his  snug  retreat  by  his 
monotonous  and  guttural  kow  kow  kow  kow,  or  koo  koo  koo 
koo,  and  ko  kuky  ko  kuk,  koo  koo  koo  kuk,  koo  kb  koo,  koo 
ko  koo,  uttered  rather  low  and  plaintively,  like  the  call  of  the 
Dove.  At  other  times  the  kow  kow  kow,  and  Uk  'tk  'ik  Uk 
Udk,  or  ^kh  'kh  ^kh  'kh  'kah  I  w  kow  kow  kow,  beginning 
slow,  rises,  and  becomes  so  quick  as  almost  to  resemble  the 
grating  of  a  watchman's  rattle,  or  else,  commencing  with  this 
call,  terminates  in  the  distant  cry  of  kow  kow  kow.  From  this 
note,  supposed  to  be  most  clamorous  at  the  approach  of  rain, 
it  has  received  in  Virginia  and  other  States  the  name  of  Rain- 
Crow  and  Cow-Bird.  At  various  seasons  during  the  contin- 
uance of  warm  weather  the  vigil  kow  kbiv  kow  kow  of  the 
faithful  male  is  uttered  for  hours  at  intervals  throughout  the 
night.  The  same  notes,  but  delivered  in  a  slower  and  rather 
tender  strain,  are  given  with  great  regularity  likewise  in  the 
day  as  long  as  the  period  of  incubation  continues.  He  often 
steadfastly  watches  any  approach  to  the  nest,  going  to  it  occa- 
sionally to  assure  himself  that  it  is  unmolested ;  and  at  times 
he  may  be  observed  darting  even  at  the  dormant  bat,  who 
accidentally  seeks  repose  beneath  the  shady  leaves  of  some 
contiguous  tree,  so  that  he  is  no  less  vigilant  in  seeking  the 
security  of  his  own  progeny  than  in  piratically  robbing  the 
nests  of  his  neighbors.  There  are  two  or  three  other  species 
in  Jamaica  and  other  parts  of  tropical  America  possessing  a 
note  very  similar  to  that  of  our  bird,  which  also  frequently 
approaches,  when  delivered  in  the  plaintive  mood,  koo  koo  and 
koo  koo  koo,  the  usual  sound  of  ihe  European  Cuckoo.  There 
is  a  Mexican  species  ( Cuculus  ridibundus)  which  so  simulates 
laughter  as  to  have  excited  the  superstition  of  the  natives, 
by  whom  it  is  hated  as  a  messenger  of  evil,  its  accidental 
note  of  risibility  being  construed  into  an  ominous  delight  in 
misfortune. 

The  whole  tribe  of  Cuckoos  are  in  disgrace  for  the  unnatural 
conduct  of  the  European  and  some  other  foreign  species,  who, 
making  no  nests  noi  engaging  in  conjugal  cares  parasitically 
deposit  their  eggs  one  by  one  in  the  nests  of  other  small  birds, 

VOL.  I.  —  28 


434 


CUCKOOS. 


to  whom  the  care  of  rearing  the  vagrant  foundling  is  uniformly 
consigned. 

But  we  may  turn  with  satisfaction  to  the  conjugal  history  of 
our  own  subject,  which,  early  in  May  or  soon  after  its  arrival, 
may  be  at  times  observed  obstinately  engaged  in  the  quarrels 
of  selective  attachment.  The  dispute  being  settled,  the  nest  is 
commenced,  and  usually  fixed  either  in  the  horizontal  branches 
of  an  apple-tree  or  in  a  thicket,  a  thorn-bush,  crab,  cedar,  or 
other  small  tree  in  some  retired  part  of  the  woods.  The  fabric 
is  usually  very  slovenly  and  hastily  put  together,  and  possesses 
scarcely  any  concavity  for  the  reception  of  the  young,  who  in 
consequence  often  fall  out  of  their  uncomfortable  cradle.  The 
nest  is  a  mere  flooring  of  twigs  put  together  in  a  zig-zag  form, 
then  blended  with  green  weeds  or  leaves  and  withered  blos- 
soms of  the  maple,  apple,  or  hickory  catkins.  A  nest  near  the 
Botanic  Garden  had,  besides  twigs,  fragments  of  bass-mat,  and 
was  very  uncomfortably  heated,  and  damp  with  the  fermenta- 
tion of  the  green  tops  of  a  species  of  maple  introduced  into  it, 
and  the  whole  swarmed  with  thrush-lice  or  millipedes.  The 
eggs  are  of  a  bluish-green  color,  often  pale,  varying  in  the 
shade  and  without  spots ;  they  are  somewhat  round  and  rather 
large.  If  they  are  handled  before  the  commencement  of  incu- 
bation, the  owner  generally  forsakes  the  nest,  but  is  very  tena- 
cious and  affectionate  towards  her  young,  and  sits  so  close  as 
almost  to  allow  9f  being  taken  off  by  the  hand.  She  then 
frequently  precipitates  herself  to  tne  ground,  fluttering,  tumb- 
ling, and  feigning  lameness,  in  the  manner  of  many  other  affec- 
tionate and  artful  birds,  to  draw  the  intruder  away  from  the 
premises  of  her  brood.  At  such  times  the  mother  also  adds  to 
the  contrivance  by  uttering  most  uncouth  and  almost  alarming 
guttural  sounds,  like  qua  qudh  gwaih,  as  if  choking,  as  she  runs 
along  the  ground.  While  the  female  is  thus  dutifully  engaged 
in  sitting  on  her  charge,  the  male  takes  his  station  at  no  great 
distance,  and  gives  alarm  by  his  notes  at  the  approach  of  any 
intruder ;  and  when  the  young  are  hatched,  both  unite  in  the 
labor  of  providing  them  with  food,  which,  like  their  own,  con- 
sists chiefly  of  the  hairy  caterpillars,  rejected  by  other  birds, 


" 


4  % 


YELLOW-BILLED  CUCKOO. 


435 


that  so  commonly  infest  the  apple-trees,  and  live  in  commu- 
nities within  a  common  silky  web.  They  also  devour  the  large 
yellow  cockchafer,  Carabi^  and  other  kinds  of  insects,  as  well 
as  various  sorts  of  berries ;  but  their  worst  propensity  is  the 
parasitic  habit  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  thus  spread- 
ing ruin  and  dismay  wherever  they  approach.  They  hatch 
several  broods  in  a  season,  and  I  have  seen  a  nest  with  eggs  in 
it  as  late  as  the  28th  of  August !  —  though  they  usually  take  their 
departure  in  some  part  of  the  month  of  September.  Consid- 
ering the  time  they  are  engaged  in  breeding,  they  raise  but  few 
young,  appearing  to  be  improvident  nurses  and  bad  nest- 
makers,  so  that  a  considerable  part  of  their  progeny  are  either 
never  hatched,  or  perish  soon  after.  These  birds  are  greatly 
attached  to  places  where  small  birds  resort,  for  the  sake  of 
sucking  their  eggs;  and  I  have  found  it  difficult  at  times  to 
eject  them,  as  when  their  nests  are  robbed,  without  much  con- 
cern they  commence  again  in  the  same  vicinity,  but  adding 
caution  to  their  operations  in  proportion  to  the  persecution 
they  meet  with.  In  this  way,  mstead  of  their  exposing  the 
nest  in  some  low  bush,  I  have  with  difficulty  met  with  one  at 
least  in  a  tall  larch,  more  than  fifty  feet  from  the  ground. 
When  wholly  routed,  the  male  kept  up  a  mournful  kow  kow 
kow  for  several  days,  appearing  now  sensible  by  experience  of 
his  own  predatory  practices. 

Careless  in  providing  comfort  for  her  progeny,  the  Amer- 
ican Cuckoo,  like  that  of  Europe,  seems  at  times  inclined  to 
throw  the  charge  of  her  offspring  on  other  birds.  Approach- 
ing to  this  habit,  I  have  found  an  egg  of  the  Cuckoo  in  the 
nest  of  a  Catbird ;  yet  though  the  habitation  was  usurped,  the 
intruder  probably  intended  to  hatch  her  own  eggs.  At  another 
time,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1830,  I  saw  a  Robin's  nest  with  two 
eggs  in  it  indented  and  penetrated  by  the  bill  of  ^  bird,  and 
the  egg  of  a  Cuckoo  deposited  in  the  same  nest.  Both 
birds  forsook  the  premises,  so  that  the  object  of  this  forcible 
entry  was  not  ascertained,  —  though  the  mere  appropriation 
of  the  nest  would  seem  to  have  been  the  intention  of  the 
Cuckoo. 


1  'I 
1  'I 


III! 

i 


11 


W 


436 


CUCKOOS. 


This  Cuckoo  is  common  in  southern  Ontario,  but  elsewhere  in 
the  Dominion  it  is  rather  rare.  Nuttall  has  not  mentioned  one 
peculiar  habit  of  this  bird,  —  that  of  laying  eggs  at  such  long  inter- 
vals that  young  in  very  different  stages  of  maturity  are  frequently 
found  in  the  same  nest,  as  also  young  birds  and  partially  incubated 
eggs.  The  practice  of  laying  its  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds  is 
seldom  indulged  in,  —  indeed,  the  known  instances  are  extremely 


rare. 


• 


BLACK-BILLED   CUCKOO. 

RAIN  CROW. 
COCCYZUS   ERYTHROPHTHALMUS. 

Char.  Above,  olive  brown  with  a  slight  metallic  gloss,  tinged  with 
ash  toward  the  bill;  wings  slightly  tinged  with  rufous;  tail  similar  to 
back,  outer  feathers  slightly  tinged  with  gray,  narrowly  tipped  with  white. 
Beneath,  white,  tinged  on  the  throat  with  pale  buff.  Bill  black.  Length 
about  12  inches. 

Nest.  On  the  edge  of  a  swampy  wood,  usually  in  a  retired  situadon 
placed  generally  in  a  low  bush ;  made  of  twigs,  strips  of  bark,  moss,  and 
catkins.  Similar  to  the  nest  of  the  Yellow-billed,  but  somewhat  firmer 
and  more  artistic. 

Eggs.    2-6  (usually  4) ;  deep  glaucous  green ;  i.io  X  0.80. 

This  species,  so  nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  is  also 
equally  common  throughout  the  United  States  in  summer,  and 
extends  its  migratio:  is  about  as  far  as  the  line  of  Nova  Scotia 
or  Newfoundland.  This  kind  also  exists  in  the  island  of  St. 
Domingo  and  Guiana,  and  the  birds  which  visit  us  probably 
retire  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  nearest  parts  of  tropical 
America.  They  arrive  in  Massachusetts  later  than  the  Yellow- 
billed  Cuckoo,  and  the  first  brood  are  hatched  here  about  the 
4th  of  June.  In  Georgia  they  begin  to  lay  towards  the  close 
of  April.  Their  food,  like  that  of  the  preceding  species,  also 
consists  of  hairy  caterpillars,  beetles,  and  other  insects,  and 
even  minute  shell-fish.  They  also,  like  many  birds  of  other 
orders,  swallow  gravel  to  assist  digestion. 

They  usually  retire  into  the  woods  to  breed,  being  less 
familiar  than  the  former,  choosing  an  evergreen  bush  or  sap- 
ling for  the  site  of  the  nest,  which  is  made  of  twigs  pretty  well 


MANGROVE  CUCKOO. 


437 


•■ 


put  together,  but  still  little  more  than  a  concave  flooring,  and 
lined  with  moss  occasionally,  and  withered  catkins  of  the  hick- 
ory. The  female  sits  very  close  on  the  nest,  admitting  a  near 
approach  before  flying;  the  young,  before  acquiring  their 
feathers,  are  of  a  uniform  bright  grayish  blue ;  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  nest  the  male  keeps  up  the  usual  rattling  call 
of  kow  kow  kow  kow,  the  note  increasing  in  loudness  and 
quickness ;  sometimes  the  call  seems  like  kh'  kh'  kh'  kh*  'kh 
'kah,  the  notes  growing  louder,  and  running  together  like  those 
of  the  Yellow-winged  Woodpecker.  This  species  has  also, 
before  rain,  a  peculiar  call,  in  a  raucous,  guttural  voice,  like 
orrattotoo  or  worrattotoo.  It  is  less  timorous  than  the  Yellow- 
billed  kind ;  and  near  the  nest  with  young,  I  have  observed 
the  parent  composedly  sit  and  plume  itself  for  a  considerable 
time  without  showing  any  alarm  at  my  presence.  It  is  equally 
addicted  to  the  practice  of  sucking  the  eggs  of  other  birds. 
Indeed,  one  that  I  saw  last  summer,  kept  up  for  hours  a  con- 
stant watch  after  the  eggs  of  a  Robin  sitting  in  an  apple-tree, 
which,  with  her  matr,,  kept  up  at  intervals  a  running  fight  with 
the  Cuckoo  for  two  days  in  succession. 

This  species  is  considered  less  abundant  than  the  Yellow-billed, 
but  it  has  much  the  same  general  distribution ;  it  goes,  however, 
farther  north,  having  been  taken  in  Newfoundland  and  Labrador, 
and  is  common  in  Manitoba,  where  the  Yellow-billed  is  not  found. 
The  Black-billed  is  rather  common  in  New  Brunswick  and  Nova 
Scotia. 


' 


MANGROVE   CUCKOO. 

COCCYZUS  MINOR. 

Char.  Above,  olive  ;  head,  ashy;  below,  buff  with  tawny  tinge,  paler 
towards  the  chi . ;  middle  tail-feather  olive,  rest  black,  broadly  tipped 
with  white.     Length  12  inches. 

Nest.     In  a  low  tree  or  bush ;  loosely  made  of  twigs. 

^SS^'     .3~4>  pale  green  or  bluish  green ;  1.25  X  0.90. 

The  Mangrove  Cuckoo  is  especially  a  West  Indian  bird,  but  is 
a  resident  also  of  the  Florida  Keys,  though  not  common  there. 
A  few  examples  have  been  met  with  in  Louisiana. 


438 


WOODPECKERS. 


Note.  — Maynard's  Cuckoo  (C  tninor  maynardi),  a  smaller 
race,  with  paler  lower  parts,  is  found  in  the  Bahama  islands  and  in 
Southern  Florida. 

Note.  — Nuttall  made  no  mention  in  his  hook  of  the  Ani  {Groto- 
phaga  ani),  a  South  American  bird  that  had  been  found  in  Loui- 
siana and  Florida.  It  was  but  a  straggler  within  the  borders  of  the 
United  States  in  his  day,  and  is  still  considered  a  rare  bird  here. 
A  few  years  ago  one  was  taken  near  Philadelphia  by  Mr.  John 
K  rider. 


T 


( 


FLICKER. 

GOLDEN-WINGED  WOODPECKER.      PIGEON   WOODPECKER. 

HIGH-HOLDER. 

COLAPTES   AURATUS. 

Char.  Above,  olive  brown  barred  with  black ;  crown  and  sides  of 
neck  bluish  gray ;  red  crescent  on  nape  ;  male  with  black  "  moustache  ;  " 
rump  white  ;  beneath,  pale  brown  with  pink  and  yellow  tints,  each  feather 
bearing  a  spot  of  black ;  shafts  and  under  surface  of  wmgs  and  tail 
golden  yellow.     Length  about  I2>^  inches. 

Nest.  In  open  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard;  a  cavity  excavated  in 
dead  trunk,  and  unlined  save  for  the  fine  chips  made  by  the  boring. 

Eggs.  6-10  (usually  2  or  7) ;  snow  white,  with  surface  like  highly 
polished  ivory;  110  X  0.90. 

This  beautiful  and  well-known  bird  breeds  and  inhabits 
throughout  North  America,  from  Labrador  and  the  remotest 
wooded  regions  of  the  fur  countries  to  Florida,  being  partially 
migratory  only  from  Canada  and  the  Northern  States,  proceed- 
ing to  the  South  in  October,  and  returning  North  in  April. 
From  the  great  numbf^rs  seen  in  the  Southern  States  in  winter 
it  is  evident  that  the  major  part  migrate  thither  from  the  North 
and  West  to  pass  the  inclement  season,  which  naturally  de- 
prives them  of  the  means  of  acquiring  their  usual  sustenance. 
At  this  time  also  they  feed  much  on  winter  berries,  such  as 
those  of  the  sumach,  smilax,  and  mistletoe.  In  the  Middle 
States  some  of  these  birds  find  the  means  of  support  through 
the  most  inclement  months  of  the  winter.  In  New  England 
they  reappear  about  the  beginning  of  April,  soon  after  which 


.* 


Hfk 


FLICKER. 


439 


mlM 


they  commence  to  pair  and  build ;  for  this  purpose  they  often 
make  choice  of  the  trank  of  a  decrtyed  apple  or  forest  tree,  at 
different  heights  from  the  ground.  When  an  accidental  cavity 
is  not  conveniently  found,  confident  in  the  formidable  means 
provided  them  by  nature,  with  no  other  aid  than  the  bill,  they 
have  been  known  to  make  a  winding  burrow  through  a  solid 
oak  for  15  inches  in  length.  At  this  labor,  for  greater  secu- 
rity and  privacy,  they  continue  till  late  in  the  evening,  and 
rnay  be  heard  dealing  blows  as  loud  and  successive  as  if  aided 
by  the  tools  of  the  carpenter.  My  friend  Mr.  Gambel  ob- 
served the  present  spring  (1840)  a  burrow  of  this  kind  in 
Cambridge,  excavated  out  of  the  living  trunk  of  a  sassafras 
about  15  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  about  8  inches  in 
diameter  and  1 8  inches  deep,  dug  with  a  shelving  inclination ; 
and  was  continued  at  intervals  for  more  than  4  weeks  before 
it  was  completed.  The  eggs,  about  6,  and  pure  white,  are 
deposited  merely  upon  the  fragments  of  wood  which  line  the 
natural  or  artificial  cavity  thus  forming  the  nest.  This  cell, 
before  the  young  are  fledged,  acquires  a  rank  and  disagreeable 
smell ;  and  on  inserting  the  hand  into  it,  the  brood  unite  in 
producing  a  hissing,  like  so  many  hidden  snakes.  They  at 
length  escape  from  this  fetid  den  in  which  they  are  hatched ; 
and  climbing  sometimes  into  the  higher  branches  of  the  tree, 
are  there  fed  until  able  to  fly.  At  other  times  the  young  cling 
to  their  protecting  cell  with  great  pertinacity,  so  that  the 
female  will  often  call  upon  them  for  hours  together  (^queah 
(fuedh),  trying  every  art  to  induce  them  to  quit  their  cradle, 
punishing  them  by  fasting,  till  at  length  they  are  forced  to 
come  out  and  answer  to  her  incessant  plaint.  If  not  disturbed, 
they  will  occasionally  approach  the  farm-house ;  and  I  have 
known  a  pair,  like  the  Bluebirds,  repair  to  the  same  hole  in  a 
poplar-tree  for  several  years  in  succession,  merely  cleaning  out 
the  old  bed  for  the  reception  of  their  eggs  and  young.  They 
incubate  by  turns,  feeding  each  other  while  thus  confined  to 
the  nest,  and  are  both  likewise  equally  solicitous  in  feeding 
and  protecting  their  young ;  the  food  on  this  occasion  is  raised 
often  from  the  throat,  where  it  has  undergone  a  preparatory 


440 


WOODPFXKERS. 


process  for  digestion.  In  the  month  of  March,  in  Florida  and 
Alabama,  I  observed  chem  already  pairing,  on  which  occasion 
many  petulant  quarrels  daily  ensued  from  a  host  of  rival  sui- 
tors, accompanied  by  their  ordinary  cackling  and  squealing. 
One  of  their  usual  complaisant  recognitions,  often  delivered  on 
a  fine  morning  from  the  '^.urcmit  of  some  lofty  dead  limb,  is 
^wit  a  ''wit  ^wit  ''wit  ^wit  ^wit  ^wit  weet  and  wait  a  wait,  woit 
woit  woit  woit,  commencing  loud,  and  slowly  rising  and  quick- 
ening till  the  tones  run  together  into  a  noise  almost  like  that 
of  a  watchman's  rattle.  They  have  also  a  sort  of  complaining 
call,  from  which  they  have  probably  derived  their  name  of 
pec  lit,  pee  lit ;  and  at  times  a  plaintive  qucah  qucah.  Occa- 
sionally they  also  utter  in  a  squealing  tone,  wht  n  surprised,  or 
engaged  in  amusinr  rivalry  with  their  fellows,  we-cogh  we-cogh 
we-cogh  we-cogh  or  weciip  weciip  wcciip. 

The  food  of  these  birds  varies  with  the  season.  They  are 
at  all  times  exceedingly  fond  of  wood-lice,  ants,  and  their 
larvae ;  and  as  the  fruits  become  mature,  they  also  add  to  their 
ample  fare  common  cherries,  bird  cherries,  winter  grapes,  gum- 
berries,  the  berries  of  the  red-cedar,  as  well  as  of  the  sumach, 
smilax,  and  other  kinds.  As  the  maize  too  ripens,  the  Flicker 
pays  frequent  visits  to  the  field ;  and  the  farmer,  readily  for- 
getful of  its  past  services,  only  remembers  its  presenc  faults, 
and  closing  its  career  wHh  the  gun,  unthinkingly  does  to  him- 
self and  the  public  an  essential  injury  in  saving  a  few  unim- 
portant ears  of  corn.  In  this  part  of  New  England  ii;  is  known 
by  the  name  of  Pigeon  Woodpecker,  from  its  general  bulk  a.  d 
appearance ;  and,  to  the  disgrace  of  our  paltry  fowlers,  it  is 
in  the  autumn  but  too  frequently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in  the 
markets,  though  its  flesh  is  neither  fat  nor  delicate.  It  is 
exceedingly  to  be  regretted  that  ignorance  and  wantonness  in 
these  particulars  should  be  so  productive  of  cruelty,  devas- 
tation, and  injurious  policy  in  regard  to  the  animals  with  whose 
amusing  and  useful  company  Nature  has  so  wonderfully  and 
beneficently  favored  us. 


m 


4. 


4 


i 


IVORY-BILLED    WOODPECKER. 

Campephilus  principalis. 

Char.  Glossy  black ;  white  stripe  from  bill  down  sides  of  neck ;  scap- 
ulars and  secondaries  white ;  bill  ivory  white.  Male  with  crest  of  scarlet 
and  black  ;  female  with  crest  of  black.     Length  21  inches. 

AV.rA  In  a  cypress-swamp  or  deep  forest ;  a  cavity  excavated  in  a  live 
tree. 

■^.^'■•f-    4-6;  white;  1.40  Xi. 00. 

This  large  and  splendid  bird  is  a  native  of  Brazil,  Mexico, 
and  the  Southern  States,  being  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of 
Virginia,  and  but  rarely  in  that  State.  He  is  a  constant 
resident  in  the  countries  where  he  is  found,  breeding  in 
the  rainy  season,  and  the  pair  are  believed  to  be  united 
for  life.  More  vagrant,  retiring,  and  independent  than  the 
rest   of  his   family,    he   is    never   found    in  the  precincts   of 


ii 


442 


WOODPECKERS. 


cultivated  tracts ;  the  scene  of  his  dominion  is  the  lonely 
forest,  amidst  trees  of  the  greatest  magnitude.  His  reiterated 
trumpeting  note,  somewiiat  similar  to  the  high  tones  of  the 
clarinet  {pait  pait pait paii)^  is  heard  soon  after  day,  and  until 
a  late  morning  hour,  echoing  loudly  from  the  recesses  of  the 
dark  cypress- swamps,  where  he  dwells  i*  ,;,  2btic  security 
without  showing  any  impertinent  or  nece^oaiy  desire  to  quit 
his  native  solitary  abodes.  Upon  the  giant  trunk  and  moss- 
grown  arms  of  this  colossus  of  the  forest,  and  amidst  almost 
inaccessible  and  ruinous  piles  of  mouldering  logs,  the  high, 
rattling  clarion  and  rapid  strokes  of  this  princely  Woodpecker 
are  often  the  only  sounds  which  vibrate  through  and  commu- 
nicate an  air  of  life  to  these  dismal  wilds.  His  stridulous, 
interrupted  call,  and  loud,  industrious  blows  may  often  be 
heard  for  more  than  half  a  mile,  and  become  audible  at  vari- 
ous distances  as  the  elevated  mechanic  raises  or  depresses  his 
voice,  or  as  he  flags  or  exerts  himself  in  his  laborious  employ- 
ment. His  retiring  habits,  loud  notes,  and  singular  occupa- 
tion, amidst  scenes  so  savage  yet  majestic,  afford  withal  -a 
peculiar  scene  of  solemn  grandeur  on  which  the  mind  dwells 
for  a  moment  with  sublime  contemplation,  convinced  that 
there  is  no  scene  in  Nature  devoid  of  harmonious  consistence. 
Nor  is  the  performance  of  this  industrious  hermit  less  remark- 
able than  the  peals  of  his  sonorous  voice  or  the  loud  choppings 
of  his  powerful  bill.  He  is  soon  surrounded  with  striking 
monuments  of  his  industry ;  like  a  real  carpenter  (a  nick-name 
given  him  by  the  Spainards),  he  is  seen  surrounded  with  cart- 
loads of  chips  and  broad  flakes  of  bark  which  rapidly  accumu- 
late round  the  roots  of  the  tall  pine  and  cypress  where  he  has 
been  a  few  hours  employed ;  the  work  of  half  a  dozen  men 
felling  trees  for  a  whole  morning  would  scarcely  exceed  the 
pile  he  has  produced  in  quest  of  a  single  breakfast  upon  those 
insect  larvae  which  have  already,  perhaps,  succeeded  in  dead- 
ening the  tree  preparatory  to  his  repast.  Many  thousand 
acres  of  pine-trees  in  the  Southern  States  have  been  destroyed 
in  a  single  season  by  the  insidious  attacks  of  insects  which  in 
the  dormant  state   are  not  larger  than  a  grain  of  rice.     It 


m 


IVORY-BILLED  WOODPECKER. 


443 


T 


is  in  quest  of  these  enemies  of  the  most  imposing  part  of  the 
vegetable  creation  that  the  industrious  and  indefatigable  Wood- 
pecker exercises  his  peculiar  labor.  In  the  sound  and  healthy 
tree  he  finds  nothing  which  serves  him  for  food. 

One  of  these  birds,  which  Wilson  wounded,  survived  with 
him  nearly  three  days,  but  was  so  savage  and  unconquerable  as 
to  refuse  all  sustenance.  When  taken,  he  reiterated  a  loud  and 
piteous  complaint,  almost  exactly  like  the  violent  crying  of  a 
young  child  ;  and  on  being  left  alone  in  a  tavern,  in  the  course 
of  an  hour  he  had  nearly  succeeded  in  making  his  way  through 
the  side  of  the  wooden  house.  He  also  cut  the  author  severely 
in  several  places  while  engaged  in  drawing  his  portrait,  and 
displayed,  as  long  as  he  survived,  the  unconquerable  spirit  of  a 
genuine  son  of  the  forest.  From  his  magnanimous  courage 
and  ardent  love  of  liberty,  the  head  and  bill  are  in  high  esteem 
among  the  amulets  of  the  Southern  Indians. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is  usually  made  in  the  living  trunk 
of  the  cypress-tree  at  a  considerable  height,  both  sexes  alter- 
nately engaging  in  the  labor.  The  excavation  is  said  to  be 
two  or  more  feet  in  depth.  The  young  are  fledged  and  abroad 
about  the  middle  of  June.  It  is  usually  known  by  the  name  of 
"  Large  Log-cock."  This  species  appears  to  live  almost  wholly 
upon  insects,  and  chiefly  those  that  bore  into  the  wood,  which 
never  fail  in  the  country  he  inhabits ;  nor  is  he  ever  known 
to  taste  of  Indian  com  or  any  sort  of  grain  or  orchard 
fruits,  though  he  has  a  fondness  for  grapes  and  other  kinds  of 
berries. 

This  species  is  now  restricted  to  the  Gulf  States  and  lower 
Mississippi  valley. 


■■I 


t4 


u 


PILEATED    WOODPECKER. 

LOG-COCK.    BLACK  WOODCOCK. 
CeOPHLCEUS   PILEA'rUS. 

Char.  General  color  greenish  black ;  wide  stripe  of  white  from  the 
bill  down  the  sides  of  the  neck ;  chin,  throat,  and  part  of  wings  white  or 
pale  yellow.  Male  with  scarlet  crown,  crest,  and  cheek  patch.  Female 
with  crest  partly  black  and  no  scarlet  on  cheek.  Length  about  i8 
inches. 

JVesf.  In  a  deep  forest  or  the  seclusion  of  a  swampy  grove ;  excavated 
in  high  trees,  and  lined  only  with  fine  chips. 

E^X'''^.    4-6  ;  snow  white  and  glossy  ;  1.25  X  i.oo. 

This  large  and  common  Woodpecker,  considerably  resem- 
bling the  preceding  species,  is  not  unfrequent  in  well-timbered 
forests  from  Mexico  and  Oregon  to  the  remote  regions  of 
Canada,  as  far  as  the  63d  degree  of  north  latitude  ;  and  in  all 
the  intermediate  region  he  resides,  breeds,  and  passes  most  of 
the  year,  retiring  in  a  desultory  manner  only  into  the  Southern 
States  for  a  few  months  in  the  most  inclement  season  from  the 
North  and  West.  In  Pennsylvania,  however,  he  is  seen  as 
a  resident  more  or  less  throughout  the  whole  year ;  and  Mr. 


m\^ 


V  I 


PILEATED  WOODPECKER. 


445 


19 


ithe 
teor 
nale 
t  18 

ited 


red 

of 

all 

tof 

ern 

the 

as 

Mr. 


Hiitchins  met  with  him  in  the  interior  of  Hudson  Bay,  near 
Albany  River,  in  the  month  of  January.  It  is,  however,  suf- 
ficiently singular,  and  shows  perhaps  the  wild  timidity  of  this 
northern  chief  of  his  tribe,  that  though  an  inhabitant  towards 
the  cavage  and  desolate  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  he  is  un- 
known at  this  time  in  all  the  maritime  parts  of  the  populous 
and  long-settled  State  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  western  parts 
of  the  State  of  New  York  he  is  sufficiently  common  in  the 
uncleared  forests,  which  have  been  the  perpetual  residence  of 
his  remotest  ancestry.  From  the  tall  trees  which  cast  their 
giant  arms  over  all  the  uncleared  river  lands,  may  often  be 
heard  his.  loud,  echoing,  and  incessant  cackle  as  he  flies 
restlessly  from  tree  to  tree,  presaging  the  approach  of  rainy 
weather.  These  notes  resemble  ekerek  rek  rek  rek  rek  nk  rek 
uttered  in  a  loud  cadence  which  gradually  rises  and  falls.  The 
marks  of  his  industry  are  also  abundantly  visible  on  the  decay- 
ing trees,  which  he  probes  and  chisels  with  great  dexterity, 
stripping  off  wide  flakes  of  loosened  bark  to  come  at  the  bur- 
rowing insects  which  chiefly  compose  his  food.  In  whatever 
engaged,  haste  and  wildness  seem  to  govern  all  his  motions, 
and  by  dodging  and  flying  from  place  to  place  as  soon  as 
observed,  he  continues  to  escape  every  appearance  of  danger. 
Even  in  the  event  of  a  fatal  wound  he  still  struggles  with  uncon- 
querable resolution  to  maintain  his  grasp  on  the  trunk  to  which 
he  trusts  for  safety  to  the  very  instant  of  death.  When  caught 
by  a  disabling  wound,  ha  still  holds  his  ground  against  a  tree, 
and  strikes  with  bitterness  the  suspicious  hand  which  attempts 
to  grasp  him,  and,  resolute  for  his  native  liberty,  rarely  submits 
to  live  in  confinement.  Without  much  foundation,  he  is  charged 
at  times  with  tasting  maize.  I  have  observed  one  occasionally 
making  a  hearty  repast  on  holly  and  smilax  berries. 

This  species  is  being  driven  back  by  "civilization,"  and  is  now 
found  only  in  the  deeper  forests.  Mr.  William  Brewster  reports 
that  a  few  pairs  still  linger  in  the  northern  part  of  Worcester 
County,  Mass. 


i'w! 


446  WOODPECKERS. 


RED-IIEADED   WOODPECKER. 

Melanerpes  erythrocephalus. 

Char.  Back,  tail,  and  primaries  blue  black;  head,  neck,  and  breast 
crimson  ;  belly,  rump,  and  secondaries  white.     Length  9  to  9^  inches. 

Nest.  In  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard  ;  usually  a  cavity  in  a  decayed 
tree. 

£gS^-    4"6;  glossy  white  ;  i.oo  X  0.80. 

This  common  and  well-known  species  is  met  with  along  the 
coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  inland  in 
the  region  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  about  the  sources  of 
the  Mississippi.  In  all  the  intermediate  country,  however 
extensive,  it  probably  resides  and  breeds.  At  the  approach 
of  winter,  or  about  the  middle  of  October,  these  birds  migrate 
from  the  North  and  West,  and  consequently  appear  very 
numerous  in  the  Southern  States  at  that  season.  Many  of 
them  also  probably  pass  into  the  adjoining  provinces  of  Mex- 
ico, and  they  reappear  in  Pennsylvania  (according  to  Wilson) 
about  the  first  of  May.  According  to  Audubon,  they  effect 
their  migration  in  the  night,  flying  high  above  the  trees  in  a 
straggling  file,  at  which  time  they  are  heard  to  emit  a  sharp 
and  peculiar  note,  easily  heard  from  the  ground,  although  the 
birds  themselves  are  elevated  beyond  the  sight.  Like  <^he 
Log-cock,  the  present  species  is  but  rarely  seen  in  the  mari- 
time parts  of  Massachusetts ;  this  region  is  only  occasionally 
visited  by  solitary  stragglers,  yet  in  the  western  parts  of  the 
State  it  is  said  to  be  as  common  as  in  the  Middle  States. 

These  birds  live  principally  in  old  forests  of  tall  trees,  but  are 
much  less  shy  than  most  of  the  genus,  frequently  visiting  the 
orchards  in  quest  of  ripe  fruits,  particularly  cherries  and  juicy 
pears  and  apples,  with  which  they  likewise  occasionally  feed 
their  young.  They  also  at  times  eat  acorns,  of  which  they  are 
said  to  lay  up  a  store,  and  visit  the  maize-fields,  being  partial 
to  the  corn  while  in  its  juicy  or  milky  state.  In  consequence 
of  these  dependent  habits  of  subsistence,  the  Red-headed 
Woodpecker  is  a  very  familiar  species,  and  even  sometimes 


RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 


447 


not  only  nests  in  the  orchard  which  supplies  him  with  suste- 
nance, but  ventures  to  rear  his  brood  within  the  boundaries  of 
the  most  populous  towns.  In  the  latter  end  of  summer  its 
reiterated  tappings  and  cackling  screams  are  frequently  heard 
from  the  shady  forests  which  border  the  rivulets  in  more 
secluded  and  less  fertile  tracts.  It  is  also  not  uncommon  to 
observe  them  on  the  fence-rails  and  posts  near  the  public 
roads,  flitting  before  the  passenger  with  the  familiarity  of 
Sparrows.  In  the  Southern  States,  where  the  mildness  of  the 
climate  prevents  the  necessity  of  migration,  this  brilliant  bird 
seems  half  domestic.  The  ancient  live-oak,  his  cradle  and 
residence,  is  cherished  as  a  domicile  ;  he  creeps  around  its 
ponderous  weathered  arms,  views  the  passing  scene  with  com- 
placence, turns  every  insect  visit  to  his  advantage,  and  for 
hours  together  placidly  reconnoitres  the  surrounding  fields.  At 
times  he  leaves  his  lofty  citadel  to  examine  the  rails  of  the 
fence  or  the  boards  of  the  adjoining  barn ;  striking  terror  into 
his  lurking  prey  by  the  stridulous  tappings  of  his  bill,  he 
hearkens  to  their  almost  inaudible  movements,  and  discovering 
their  retreat,  dislodges  them  from  their  burrows  by  quickly 
and  dexterously  chiselling  out  the  decaying  wood  in  which  they 
are  hid,  and  transfixing  them  with  his  sharp  and  barbed 
tongue.  But  his  favorite  and  most  productive  resor"  is  to  the 
adjoining  fields  of  dead  and  girdled  trees,  amidst  whose 
bleaching  trunks  and  crumbling  branches  he  long  continues  to 
find  an  ample  repast  of  depredating  and  boring  insects.  When 
the  cravings  of  appetite  are  satisfied,  our  busy  hunter  occa- 
sionally gives  way  to  a  playful  or  quarrelsome  disposition,  and 
with  shrill  and  lively  vociferations  not  unlike  those  of  the 
neighboring  tree-frog,  he  pursues  in  a  graceful,  curving  flight  his 
companions  or  rivals  round  the  bare  limbs  of  some  dead  tree 
to  which  they  resort  for  combat  or  frolic. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  in  Pennsylvania,  they  burrow  out 
or  prepare  their  nests  in  the  large  limbs  of  trees,  adding  no 
materials  to  the  cavity  which  they  smooth  out  for  the  purpose. 
As  with  the  Bluebird,  the  same  tree  continues  to  be  employed 
for  several  years  in  succession,  and  probably  by  the  same  undi- 


448 


WOODPECKEPS. 


vided  pair.  The  eggs  and  young  of  this  and  many  other  birds 
occasionally  fall  a  prey  to  the  attacks  of  the  common  black 
snake.  The  young  are  easily  tamed  for  a  while,  and  when  left 
at  large  come  for  some  time  regularly  to  be  fed,  uttering  a  cry 
to  call  attention.  I  have  seen  them  feed  on  corn- meal  paste, 
a  large  piece  of  which  the  bird  would  carry  off  to  a  distance 
and  eat  at  leisure. 

This  species  is  common  in  Ontario  and  near  Montreal,  but  is 
only  an  accidental  visitor  to  other  portions  of  eastern  Canada.  It 
is  usually  a  rare  bird  to  the  eastward  of  the  Hudson  River,  though 
in  the  fall  of  1881  it  was  quite  common  in  parts  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts. 

The  habit  of  this  bird  —  in  common  with  others  of  the  family  — 
to  store  nuts  and  grain  for  winter  use,  briefly  alluded  to  by  Nuttall, 
has  been  confirmed  frequently  by  recent  observers.  An  interesting 
paper  on  this  subject  by  O.  P.  Hay  appeared  in  the  "  Auk "  for 
July,  1887. 


RED-BELLIED   WOODPECKER. 

Melanerpes  carolinus. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white  in  narrow  bands ;  tail  black  and 
white ;  beneath,  pale  buff;  belly  rosy  red.  Male,  with  crown  and  back 
of  head  scarlet,  which  in  the  female  is  replaced  by  dull  ash. 

Nest.  Usually  in  a  secluded  forest  of  tall  trees ;  a  cavity  cut  in  a  dead 
trunk  or  limb. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white  and  glossy;  i.oo  X  0.75. 

This  species  inhabits  the  whole  North  American  continent, 
from  the  interior  of  Canada  to  Florida,  and  even  the  island  of 
Jamaica,  in  all  of  which  countries  it  probably  rears  its  young, 
migrating  only  partially  from  the  colder  regions.  This  also, 
like  the  preceding,  is  unknown  in  all  the  eastern  parts  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  probably  New  Hampshire. 

The  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  dwells  in  the  soHtude  of  the 
forest ;  amidst  the  tall  and  decayed  trees  only  he  seeks  his  less 
varied  fare,  and  leads  a  life  of  roving  wildness  and  independ- 
ence, congenial  with  his  attachment  to  freedom  and  liberty. 
Sometimes,  however,  on  the  invasion  of  his  native  haunts  by 


RED-BELLIED  WOODPECKER. 


449 


>4  pt 


the  progress  of  agriculture,  he  may  be  seen  prowUng  among 
the  dead  and  girdled  trees  which  now  afford  him  an  augmented 
source  of  support ;  and,  as  a  chief  of  the  soil,  he  sometimes 
claims  his  native  rights  by  collecting  a  small  tithe  from  the 
usurping  field  of  maize.  His  loud  and  harsh  call  of  Ushow 
Ushow  'tshow  Ushow,  reiterated  like  the  barking  of  a  cur,  may 
often  be  heard,  through  the  course  of  the  day,  to  break  the 
silence  of  the  wilderness  in  which  his  congenial  tribe  are 
almost  the  only  residents.  On  a  fine  spring  morning  I  have 
observed  his  desultory  ascent  up  some  dead  and  lofty  pine, 
tapping  at  intervals,  and  dodging  from  side  to  side,  as  he  as- 
cended in  a  spiral  line ;  at  length,  having  gained  the  towering 
summit,  while  basking  in  the  mild  sunbeams,  he  surveys  the 
extensive  landscape,  and  almost  with  the  same  reverberating 
sound  as  his  blows,  at  intervals  he  utters  a  loud  and  solitary 
^cur'rh  in  a  tone  as  solemn  as  the  tolling  of  the  Campanero. 
He  thus  hearkens,  as  it  were,  to  the  shrill  echoes  of  his  own 
voice,  and  for  an  hour  at  a  time  seems  alone  employed  in  con- 
templating, in  cherished  solitude  and  security,  the  beauties  and 
ble  '•uigs  of  the  rising  day. 

The  nest,  early  in  April,  is  usually  made  in  some  lofty 
branch ;  and  in  this  labor  both  the  sexes  unite  to  dig  out  a  cir- 
cular cavity  for  the  purpose,  sometimes  out  of  the  solid  wood, 
but  more  commonly  into  a  hollow  limb.  The  young  appear 
towards  the  close  of  May  or  early  in  June,  climbing  out  upon 
the  higher  branches  of  the  tree,  where  they  are  fed  and  reared 
until  able  to  fly,  though  in  the  mean  time  from  their  exposure 
they  often  fall  a  prey  to  prowling  Hawks.  These  birds  usually 
raise  but  one  brood  in  the  season,  and  may  be  considered,  like 
the  rest  of  their  insect-devouring  fraternity,  as  useful  scaven- 
gers for  the  protection  of  the  forest  -,  their  attacks,  as  might  be 
reasonably  expected,  being  always  confined  to  decaying  trees, 
which  alone  afford  the  prey  for  which  they  probe. 

This  bird  is  common  in  parts  of  Ontario,  but  has  not  been  taken 
elsewhere  in  Canada.  It  is  common  in  Ohio,  and  ranges  as  far  to 
the  southward  as  Florida,  but  is  very  rare  in  New  England. 


VOL.  I. 


29 


YELLOW-BELLIED   SAPSUCKER. 

Sphyrapicus  varius. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  back  tinged  with  yellow;  crown  and 
chin  scarlet,  bordered  by  black;  cheeks  black,  bordered  by  white  or  pale 
yellow ;  breast  black  ;  belly  pale  yellow.  In  females  the  scarlet  on  chin 
is  replaced  by  white.     Length  Syi  inches. 

A^est.  In  woodland;  a  cavity  in  a  dead  trunk  of  large  tree  ;  sometimes 
excavated  in  a  live  tree. 

£^£ii-    4-7 ;  white  ;  0.85  X  0.60. 

This  species,  according  to  the  season,  extends  over  tlie 
whole  American  continent,  from  the  53d  degree  to  the  tropics, 
where  it  is  seen  in  Cayenne.  With  us  it  is  most  common 
in  summer  in  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  and  as  far 
north  as  Nova  Scotia.  At  this  season  it  is  seldom  seen  beyond 
the  precincts  of  the  forest,  in  which  it  selects  the  most  solitary 
recesses,  leaving  its  favorite  haunts  only  at  the  approach  of 
winter,  and  seeking,  from  necessity  or  caprice,  at  this  roving 
season  the  boundaries  of  the  orchard.  The  habits  of  this  bird 
are  but  little  different  from  those  of  the  Hairy  and  Downy 
Woodpeckers,  with  which  it  is  often  associated  in  their  fora- 
ging excursions.  The  nest,  as  usual,  is  made  in  the  body  of 
some  decayed  orchard  or  forest  tree,  the  circular  entrance  to 


,. 


■^ 


HAIRY  WOODPECKER. 


451 


which  is  left  only  just  sufficient  for  the  passage  of  the  parties. 
The  depth  of  the  cavity  is  about  1 5  incnes,  and  the  eggs,  4  or 
upwards,  are  white.  The  principal  food  of  these  birds  is  insects, 
for  they  sometimes  bore  the  trunks  of  the  orchard  trees. 

The  "  sapsucking  "  habit  of  this  species,  denied  by  some  of  our 
most  eminent  naturalists,  has  been  established  by  Mr.  Frank 
Belles,  who  published  an  interesting  account  of  his  observations  in 
"The  Auk"  for  July,  1891. 

For  several  days  Mr.  Belles  almost  continuously  watched  a 
number  of  these  birds  while  they  operated  on  trees  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  summer  home  at  Chicarua,  N.  H.  The  birds  drilled  holes 
in  maple,  oak,  birch,  and  ash  trees,  and  drank  the  sap  as  it  dripped 
from  these  holes.  When  one  set  of  holes  became  "dry,"  others 
were  drilled,  eight  to  sixteen  on  each  tree,  the  new  holes  being 
made  higher  up  than  the  old.  Some  of  the  birds  spent  about 
nine  tenths  of  the  time  in  drinking  the  sap.  Mr.  Bolles  placed 
under  the  trees  cups  made  of  birch  bark  and  filled  with  maple 
syrup,  which  the  birds  drank  freely,  ^.ater  brandy  was  added, 
with  amusing  consequences,  the  mixture  finally  acting  as  an  emetic. 
He  moreover  states  that  the  sap  was  not  used  as  a  trap  for  insects, 
as  some  writers  have  supposed ;  and  while  the  birds  caught  insects 
occasionally,  these  did  not  appear  to  form  a  large  part  of  their  diet. 
An  examination  of  the  stomachs  of  a  few  birds  revealed  but  little 
insect  remains,  and  that  little  was  composed  chiefly  of  ants. 


■   the 


HAIRY   WOODPECKER. 
Drvobates  villosus. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  the  back  with  long,  slender,  loose 
hair-like  feathers ;  beneath,  white  ;  outer  tail-feathers  white.  Male  with 
scarlet  band  at  back  of  head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.  In  immature 
birds  the  crown  is  more  or  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sometimes  with 
yellow.     Length  8}i  to  9  inches. 

ATesf.  In  open  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard ;  a  cavity  in  a  dead 
trunk,  without  lining. 

£,^S's-    4-5;  white  and  glossy;  1.00  X  0.70. 

This  common  and  almost  familiar  species  is  a  resident 
in  most  parts  of  America,  from  Hudson  Bay  to  Florida,  fre- 


452 


WOODPECKERS. 


quently  approaching  the  cottage  or  the  skirts  of  the  town  as 
well  as  the  forest.  It  is  li),:ewise  much  attached  to  orchards, 
an  active  borer  of  their  trunks,  and  an  eager  hunter  after  in- 
sects and  larvae  in  all  kinds  of  decayed  wood,  even  to  stumps 
and  the  rails  of  the  fences.  In  autumn  it  also  feeds  on  berries 
and  other  fruits.  In  the  month  of  May,  accompanied  by  his 
mate,  the  male  seeks  out  the  seclusion  of  the  woods,  and 
taking  possession  of  a  hollow  branch,  or  cutting  out  a  cavity 
anew,  he  forms  his  nest  in  a  deep  and  secure  cavern,  though 
sometimes  a  mere  stake  of  the  fence  answers  the  purpose.  In 
the  Southern  States  these  birds  have  usually  two  broods  in  the 
season,  and  raise  them  both  in  the  same  nest,  which  is  not 
infrequently  at  no  great  distance  from  habitations.  Their  call 
consists  in  a  shrill  and  rattling  whistle,  heard  to  a  consid- 
erable distance.  They  also  give  out  a  single  querulous  note  of 
recognition  while  perambulating  the  trunks  for  food. 

The  habitat  of  true  villosus  is  now  considered  as  restricted  to 
the  middle  portion  of  the  Eastern  States.  At  the  North  it  is 
represented  by  D.  villosus  leucomelas^  a  larger  variety  (length 
10  to  II  inches),  and  at  the  South  by  D.  villosus  audubonii^  which 
measures  but  8  to  8^  inches  in  length. 


n  m 


DOWNY   WOODPECKER. 

Drvobates  pubescens. 

Char.  Similar  to  D.  villosus,  but  smaller.  Above,  black  and  white, 
the  back  with  long,  slender,  looso  hair-like  ("  downy  ")  feathers ;  beneath, 
white ;  outer  tail-feathers  barred.  Male  with  scarlet  band  at  back  of 
head,  which  in  the  female  is  black.  In  immature  birds  the  crown  is  more 
or  less  tinged  with  red,  or,  sometimes,  with  yellow.  Length  6^  to  7 
inches. 

Nest.  In  open  woodland,  pasture,  or  orchard;  a  cavity  in  a  dead 
trunk,  without  lining. 

Es^gs.    4-6 ;  white  and  glossy  ;  0.80  X  0.60. 

This  species,  the  smallest  of  American  Woodpeckers,  agrees 
almost  exactly  with  the  P.  villosus  in  its  colors  and  markings. 
It  is  likewise  resident  throughout  the  same  countries.     About 


DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 


453 


i|P 


d  m 


the  middle  of  May  also,  the  pair  begin  to  look  out  a  suitable 
deposit  for  their  eggs  and  young.  The  entrance  is  in  the  form 
of  a  perfect  circle,  and  left  o:.ly  just  large  enough  for  an  indi- 
vidual to  pass  in  and  out.  Both  sexes  labor  for  about  a  week 
at  this  task  with  indefatigable  diligence,  carrying  on  the  burrow 
in  some  orchard  tree,  in  two  different  directions,  to  the  depth 
of  1 6  to  20  inches  down;  and  to  prevent  suspicion  the  chips 
are  carried  out  and  strewn  at  a  distance.  The  male  occa- 
sionally feeds  his  mate  while  sitting ;  and  about  the  close  of 
June  the  young  are  observed  abroad,  climbing  up  the  tree  with 
considerable  address.  Sometimes  the"  crafty  House  Wren  in- 
terferes, and,  driving  the  industrious  tenants  from  their  hole, 
usurps  possession.  These  birds  have  a  shrill  cackle  and  a  reit- 
erated call,  which  they  frequently  utter  while  engaged  in  quest 
of  their  prey.  In  the  autumn  they  feed  on  various  kinds  of 
berries  as  well  as  insects.  No  species  can  exceed  the  present 
in  industry  and  perseverance.  While  thus  regularly  probing 
the  bark  of  the  tree  for  insects,  it  continues  so  much  engaged 
ias  to  disregard  the  approaches  of  the  observer,  though  imme- 
diately under  the  tree.  These  perforations,  made  by  our  Sap- 
Slickers^  —  as  the  present  and  Hairy  species  are  sometimes 
called,  —  are  carried  round  the  trunks  and  branches  of  the 
orchard  trees  in  regular  circles,  so  near  to  each  other  that, 
according  to  Wilson,  eight  or  ten  of  them  may  be  covered  by 
a  dollar.  The  object  of  this  curious  piece  of  industry  is  not 
satisfactorily  ascertained ;  but  whether  it  be  done  to  taste  the 
sap  of  the  tree,  or  to  dislodge  vermin,  it  is  certain  that  the 
plant  escapes  uninjured,  and  thrives  as  well  or  better  than 
those  which  are  unperforated. 

This  diminutive  and  very  industrious  species  is  a  constant 
inhabitant  of  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  58th  parallel,  seeking 
its  food  principally  on  the  maple,  elm,  and  ash,  and  north  of 
latitude  54  degrees,  where  the  range  of  these  trees  terminates, 
on  the  aspen  and  birch.  The  circles  of  round  holes  which  it 
makes  with  so  much  regularity  round  the  trunks  of  living  trees 
are  no  doubt  made  for  the  purpose  of  getting  at  the  sweet  sap 
which   they  contain.     In   the    month   of   February,    1830,  I 


fri 


l! 


454 


WOODPECKERS. 


observed  these  borers  busy  tapping  the  small  live  trunks  of 
several  wax-myrtles  {Myrica  ceriferd)  ;  and  these  perforations 
were  carried  down  into  the  alburnum,  or  sap-wood,  but  no 
farther :  no  insects  could  be  expected,  of  course,  in  such  situ- 
ations, and  at  this  season  very  few  could  be  obtained  anywhere. 
On  examining  the  oozing  sap,  I  found  it  to  be  exceedingly 
saccharine,  but  in  some  instances  astringent  or  nearly  taste- 
less. To  a  bird  like  the  present,  which  relishes  and  devours 
also  berries,  I  make  no  doubt  but  that  this  native  nectar  is 
sought  after  as  agreeable  and  nutritious  food,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  Baltimore  Bird  collects  the  saccharine  secretion 
of  the  fruit  blossoms ;  and  in  fact  I  have  observed  the  Wood- 
pecker engaged  in  the  act  of  sipping  this  sweet  fluid,  which  so 
readily  supplies  it  on  all  occasions  with  a  temporary  substitute 
for  more  substantial  fare.  Sometimes,  however,  on  discovering 
insects  in  a  tree,  it  forgets  its  taste  for  the  sap,  and  in  quest 
of  its  prey  occasionally  digs  deep  holes  into  the  trees  large 
enough  to  admit  its  whole  body. 

The  Downy  Woodpecker  is  found  throughout  the  eastern  and 
northern  portions  of  North  America,  and  like  its  congener,  the 
Hairy,  is  a  resident,  rather  than  a  migratory  species,  breeding  usu- 
ally wherever  it  is  found.  There  is  no  such  difference  in  the  two 
birds  as  is  represented  by  the  names  ''  hairy  "  and  "  downy ; "  the 
long  feathers  of  the  back  from  which  the  names  are  derived  are 
exactly  similar.  The  differentiation  lies  in  the  size  of  the  birds 
and  in  some  markings  on  the  tail-feathers. 


THE   RED-COCKADED   WOODPECKER. 

Dryobates  borealis. 

Char.  Above,  black  and  white,  barred  transversely;  crown,  black; 
sides  of  head  with  white  patch,  bordered,  above,  by  red  stripe ;  beneath, 
white,  sides  streaked  with  black.     Length  7^  to  8,'/^  inches. 

N'est.    In  pine  woods  ;  an  excavation  in  a  decayed  trunk  or  living  tree. 

Eggs.    4-6;  white,  with  but  little  gloss  ;  0.95  X  0.70. 

This  species,  remarkable  for  the  red  stripe  on  the  side  of 
its  head,  was  discovered   by  Wilson   in   the   pine   woods  of 


#k. 


^ 


ARCTIC  THREE-TOED  WOODPECKER. 


455 


North  Carolina,  whence  it  occurs  to  the  coast  of  the  Mexican 
Gulf,  and  as  far  to  the  north  and  west  as  New  Jersey  and 
Tennessee.  It  is  a  very  active  and  noisy  species,  gliding  with 
alertness  along  the  trunks  and  branches  of  trees,  principally 
those  of  oak  and  pine.  At  almost  every  move  it  utters  a  short, 
shrill,  and  clear  note,  audible  at  a  considerable  distance.  In 
the  breeding  season  its  call,  still  more  lively  and  petulant,  is 
reiterated  through  the  pine  forests,  where  it  now  chiefly  dwells. 
These  birds  are  frequently  seen  by  pairs  in  the  company  of 
the  smaller  Woodpeckers  and  Nuthatches  in  the  winter  sea- 
son, and  they  now  feed  by  choice  principally  upon  ants  and 
small  coleoptera. 

In  Florida  they  are  already  mated  in  the  month  of  January, 
and  prepare  their  burrows  in  the  following  month.  The  nest 
is  frequently  in  a  decayed  trunk  20  to  30  feet  from  the 
ground.  In  the  winter  season,  and  in  cold  and  wet  weather, 
this  bird  is  in  the  habit  of  roosting  in  its  old  nests  or  in  the 
holes  of  decayed  trees,  iind  frequently  retreats  to  such  places 
when  wounded  or  pursued. 

The  habitat  of  this  species  as  at  present  determined  is  the  South- 
eastern States,  including  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee,  and  the 
bird  also  occurs  sparingly  in  New  Jersey. 


ARCTIC   THREE-TOED   WOODPECKER. 

BLACK-BACKED  WOODPECKER. 
PiCOIDES   ARCTICUS. 

Char.  Only  three  toes.  Above,  black ;  white  stripe  on  side  of  head ; 
outer  tail-feathers  white ;  beneath,  white  barred  with  black.  Adult  male 
with  square  patch  of  yellow  on  the  crown.     Length  gVx  to  10  inches. 

A^esf.     In  a  deep  forest,  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

Eg-^s.    4-6;  white  and  glossy ;  0.95  X  0.75. 

This  species  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  northern  regions  from 
Maine  to  the  fur  countries,  dwelling  an'ong  deep  forests  in 
mountainous  regions.  Its  voice  and  habits  are  indeed  pre- 
cisely similar  to  those  of  the  Spotted  Woodpeckers,  to  which  it 


45<5 


WOODPECKERS. 


is  closely  allied.  Its  food  consists  of  insects,  their  eggs  and 
larvae,  to  which  it  sometimes  adds,  according  to  the  season, 
seeds  and  berries.  Audubon  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet 
with  it  in  the  pine  forests  of  the  Pokono  Mountains  in  Penn- 
sylvania. It  is,  however,  sufificiently  common  in  the  dreary 
wilds  around  Hudson  Bay  and  Severn  River.  It  is  remarkable 
that  a  third  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  present  as  to  have 
been  confounded  with  it  merely  as  a  variety,  is  found  to  inhabit 
the  woods  of  Guiana.  In  this  (the  Picus  undulatus  of  Vieillot) 
the  crown,  however,  is  red  instead  of  yellow ;  the  tarsi  are  also 
naked,  and  the  black  of  the  back  undulated  with  white. 

This  species  occurs  sparingly  in  winter  in  northern  New  Eng- 
land and  southern  Canada,  and  representatives  have  been  taken 
in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut.  Occasionally  one  is  met  in 
summer  in  northern  Maine  and  New  Brunswick. 


'i 


AMERICAN  THREE-TOED   WOODPECKER. 

BANDED-BACKED   WOODPECKER. 
PiCOIDES  AMERICANUS. 

Char.  O  ly  three  toes.  Above,  bla  \  thickly  spotted  with  white 
about  the  head  and  neck;  back  barred  with  white;  beneath,  white; 
sides  barred  with  black.  Adult  male  with  yellow  patch  on  the  crown. 
Length  about  9  inches. 

Nest.    In  a  deep  forest ;  an  excavation  in  a  dead  tree. 

Eggs.    4-  ?;  cream. white;  0.90  X  0.70. 

According  to  Richardson,  this  bird  exists  as  a  permanent 
resident  in  all  the  spruce-forests  between  Lake  Superior  and 
the  Arctic  Sea,  and  is  the  most  common  Woodpecker  north 
of  Great  Slave  Lake.  It  resembles  P.  villosus  in  its  habits, 
seeking  its  food,  however,  principally  on  decaying  trees  of  the 
pine  tribe,  in  which  it  frequently  burrows  holes  large  enough 
to  bury  itself. 

This  is  only  a  rare  winter  visitor  as  far  south  as  New  Brunswick, 
though  it  has  been  taken  in  Massachusetts,  and  Dr.  Merriam  has 
found  a  nest  in  the  Adirondacks, 


* 


> 


RUBY-THROATED    HUMMING    BIRD.  / 

Trochilus  colubris. 

Char.  Above,  metallic  green ;  wings  and  tail  brownish  violet  or 
bronzy ;  chin  velvety  black  ;  throat  rich  ruby,  reflecting  various  hues 
from  brownish  black  to  bright  crimson  ;  belly  whitish.  Female  and  young 
without  red  on  the  throat,  which  is  dull  gray ;  tail-feathers  barred  with 
black  and  tipped  with  white.     Length  3  to  3^  inches. 

Nest.  In  an  orchard  or  open  woodland ;  placed  on  a  horizontal  branch 
or  in  a  crotch;  made  of  plant  down  firmly  felted  and  covered  exteriorly 
with  lichens. 

Eggs.    2-  ? ;  white,  with  rosy  tint  when  fresh  ;  0.50  X  0.30. 

This  wonderfully  diminutive  and  brilliant  bird  is  the  only 
one  of  an  American  genus  of  more  than  a  hundred  species, 
which  ventures  beyond  the  limit  of  tropical  climates.  Its 
approaches  towards  the  north  are  regulated  by  the  advances  of 
the  season.  Fed  on  the  honeyed  sweets  of  flowers,  it  is  an 
exclusive  attendant  on  the  varied  bounties  of  Flora.  By  the 
10th  to  the  20th  of  March,  it  is  already  seen  in  the  mild 
forests  of  Louisiana  and  the  warmer  maritime  districts  of 
Georgia,  where  the  embowering  and  fragrant  Gelsemimn,  the 
twin-leaved  Bignonia,  with  a  host  of  daily  expanding  flowers, 
invite  our  little  sylvan  guest  to  the  retreats  it  had  reluctantly 


458 


HUMMING  BIRDS. 


forsaken.  Desultory  in  its  movements,  roving  only  through 
the  region  of  blooming  sweets,  its  visits  to  the  Northern  States 
are  delayed  till  the  month  of  May.  Still  later,  as  if  deter- 
mined that  no  flower  shall  "  blush  unseen,  or  waste  its  sweet- 
ness on  the  desert  air,"  our  little  sylph,  on  wings  as  rapid  as 
the  wind,  at  once  launches  without  hesitation  into  the  flowery 
wilderness  of  the  north. 

The  first  cares  of  the  little  busy  pair  are  now  bestowed  on 
their  expected  progeny.  This  instinct  alone  propelled  them 
from  their  hibernal  retreat  within  the  tropics ;  strangers  amidst 
their  numerous  and  brilliant  tribe,  they  seek  only  a  transient 
asylum  in  the  milder  regions  of  their  race.  With  the  earliest 
dawn  of  the  northern  spring,  in  pairs,  as  it  were  with  the  celer- 
ity of  thought,  they  dart  at  intervals  through  the  dividing 
space,  till  they  again  arrive  in  the  genial  and  more  happy  re- 
gions of  their  birth.  The  enraptured  male  is  now  assiduous 
in  attention  to  his  mate ;  forgetful  of  selfish  wants,  he  feeds 
his  companion  with  nectared  sweets,  and  jealous  of  danger 
and  interruption  to  the  sole  companion  of  his  delights,  he  often 
almost  seeks  a  quarrel  with  the  giant  birds  which  surround  him  : 
he  attacks  even  the  Kingbird,  and  drives  the  gliding  Martin 
to  the  retreat  of  his  box.  The  puny  nest  is  now  prepared  in 
the  long-accustomed  orchard  or  neighboring  forest.  It  is  con- 
cealed by  an  artful  imitation  of  the  mossy  branch  to  which 
it  is  firmly  attached  and  incorporated.  Bluish -gray  lichens, 
agglutinated  by  saliva  and  matched  with  surrounding  objects, 
instinctively  form  the  deceiving  external  coat ;  portions  of  the 
cunning  architecture,  for  further  security,  are  even  tied  down 
to  the  supporting  station.  Within  are  laid  copious  quantities  of 
the  pappus  or  other  down  of  plants ;  the  inner  layer  of  this 
exquisite  bed  is  finished  with  the  shortwood  of  the  budding 
Piatanus,  the  mullein,  or  the  soft  clothing  of  unfolding  fern- 
stalks.  Incubation,  so  tedious  to  the  volatile  pair,  io  completed 
in  the  short  space  of  ten  days,  and  in  the  warmer  States  a 
second  brood  is  raised.  When  the  nest  is  approached,  the 
parents  dart  around  the  intruder,  within  a  few  inches  of  his 
face ;  and  the  female,  if  the  young  are  out,  often  resumes  her 


RUBY-THROATED  HUMMING  BIRD. 


459 


.i 


seat,  though  no  more  than  three  or  four  feet  from  the  observer. 
In  a  single  week  the  young  are  on  the  wing,  and  in  this  situa- 
tion still  continue  to  be  fed  with  their  nursing  sweets  by  the 
assiduous  parents. 

Creatures  of  such  delicacy  and  uncommon  circumstances, 
the  wondrous  sports  of  Nature,  everything  appears  provided 
for  the  security  of  their  existence ;  the  brood  are  introduced 
to  life  in  the  warmest  season  of  the  year  :  variation  of  tempera- 
ture beyond  a  certain  medium  would  prove  destructive  to 
these  exquisite  forms.  The  ardent  heats  of  America  have 
alone  afforded  them  support ;  no  region  so  cool  as  the  United 
States  produces  a  set  of  feathered  beings  so  delicate  and 
tender;  and,  consequently,  any  sudden  extremes,  by  produ- 
cing chill  and  famine,  are  fatal  to  our  Humming  Birds.  In  the 
remarkably  wet  summer  of  1831  very  few  of  the  young  were 
raised  in  New  England.  In  other  seasons  they  comparatively 
swarm,  and  the  numerous  and  almost  gregarious  young  are 
then  seen,  till  the  close  of  September,  eagerly  engaged  in  sip- 
ping the  nectar  from  various  showy  and  tubular  flowers,  partic- 
ularly those  of  the  trumpet  Bignonia  and  wild  balsam,  with 
many  other  conspicuous  productions  of  the  fields  and  gardens. 
Sometimes  they  may  also  be  seen  collecting  dimunitive  in- 
sects, or  juices  from  the  tender  shoots  of  the  pine-tree.  While 
thus  engaged  in  strife  and  employment,  the  scene  is  peculiarly 
amusing.  Approaching  a  flower,  and  vibrating  on  the  wing 
before  it.  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning  the  long,  cleft,  and 
tubular  tongue  is  exerted  to  pump  out  the  sweets,  while  the 
buzzing  or  humming  of  the  wings  reminds  us  of  the  approach 
of  some  larger  sphinx  or  droning  bee.  No  other  sound  or 
song  is  uttered,  except  occasionally  a  slender  chirp  while  flit- 
ting from  a  flower,  until  some  rival  bird  too  nearly  approaches 
the  same  plant ;  a  quick,  faint,  and  petulant  squeak  is  then 
uttered,  as  the  little  glowing  antagonists  glide  up  in  swift  and 
angry  gyrations  into  the  air.  The  action  at  the  same  time  is  so 
sudden,  and  the  flight  so  rapid,  that  the  whole  are  only  traced 
for  an  instant,  like  a  gray  line  in  the  air.  Sometimes,  without 
any  apparent  provocation,  the  little  pugnacious  vixen  will,  for 


460 


HUMMING  BIRDS. 


m 


mere  arousement,  pursue  larger  birds,  such  as  the  Yellow  Bird 
and  Sparrows.  To  man  they  show  but  little  either  of  fear  or 
aversion,  often  quietly  feeding  on  their  favorite  flowers  when 
so  nearly  approached  as  to  be  caught.  They  likewise  fre- 
quently enter  the  green  houses  and  windows  of  dwellings 
where  flowers  are  kept  in  sight.  After  feeding  for  a  time,  the 
individual  settles  on  some  small  and  often  naked  bough  or 
slender  twig,  and  dresses  its  feathers  with  great  composure, 
particularly  preening  and  clearing  the  plumes  of  the  wing. 

The  old  and  young  are  soon  reconciled  to  confinement.  In 
an  hour  after  the  loss  of  liberty  the  cheerful  little  captive  will 
often  come  and  suck  diluted  honey,  or  sugar  and  water,  from 
the  flowers  held  out  to  it ;  and  in  a  few  hours  more  it  becomes 
tame  enough  to  sip  its  favorite  beverage  from  a  saucer,  in  the 
interval  flying  backwards  and  forwards  in  the  room  for  mere 
exercise,  and  then  resting  on  some  neighboring  elevated  object. 
In  dark  or  rainy  weather  it  seems  to  pass  the  time  chiefly 
dozing  on  the  perch.  It  is  also  soon  so  familiar  as  to  come  to 
the  hand  that  feeds  it.  In  cold  nights,  or  at  the  approach  of 
frost,  the  pulsation  of  this  little  dweller  in  the  sunbeam  be- 
comes nearly  as  low  as  in  the  torpid  state  of  the  dormouse ; 
but  on  applying  warmth,  the  alrrost  stagnant  circulation 
revives,  and  slowly  increases  to  the  usual  state. 

Near  the  Atlantic  this  frail  creature  nests  regularly  as  far  north 
as  the  Laurentian  hills  of  Quebec.  It  is  an  abundant  summer  res- 
ident of  the  Maritime  Provinces,  but  occurs  in  southern  Ontario 
as  a  migrant  only. 

The  fact  that  insects  form  a  staple  diet  of  these  diminutive  birds 
has  been  satisfactorily  proved,  though  formerly  they  were  sup- 
posed to  feed  entirely  on  honey.  Honey  doubtless  forms  a  part 
of  their  food,  and  they  also  drink  freely  of  the  sweet  sap  which  the 
Woodpeckers  draw  from  the  maple  and  birch. 

Another  mistake  regarding  the  Humming  Birds,  —  that  they 
never  alight  while  feeding,  —  has  been  rectified  by  several  trust- 
worthy observers.  The  birds  have  been  seen  to  alight  on  the 
'eaves  of  the  trumpet-flower  while  gathering  honey,  and  also  to 
r-ist  on  the  tapped  trees  while  they  leisurely  drank  of  the  flowing 
sap. 

The  young  birds  are  fed  by  regurgitation. 


'W 


BELTED   KINGFISHER. 
Ceryle  alcyon. 


V.^   ^/iip,.' 


/' 


i-^.. 


■t- 


Char.  Above,  slaty  blue;  head  with  long  crest;  beneith,  white. 
Male  with  blue  band  across  breast.  Female  and  young  with  breast-band 
and  sides  of  belly  pale  chestnut.     Length  12  to  13  inches. 

Nest,  An  excavation  in  a  sandbank,  —  usually  by  the  side  of  a  stream; 
lined  with  grass  and  feathers. 

Eggs.    6-8;  white  i-'nd  glossy ;  1.35  X  1.05. 

This  wild  and  grotesque-looking  feathered  angler  is  a  well- 
known  inhabitant  of  the  borders  of  fresh  waters  from  the  re- 
mote fur  countries  in  the  67th  parallel  to  the  tropics.  Its 
delight  is  to  dwell  amidst  the  most  sequestered  scenes  of 
uncultivated  nature,  by  the  borders  of  running  rivulets,  near 
the  roar  of  the  waterfall,  or  amidst  the  mountain  streamlets 
which  abound  with  the  small  fish  and  insects  that  constitute 
its  accustomed  fiire.  Mill-dams  and  the  shelving  and  friable 
banks  of  watercourses,  suited  for  the  sylvan  retreat  of  its 
brood,  have  also  peculiar  and  necessary  attractions  for  our  re- 
tiring  Kingfisher.     By  the  broken,  bushy,  or  rocky  banks  of 


1  o  ::> 


462 


KINGFISHERS. 


!!' 


its  solitary  and  aquatic  retreat,  tiiis  bird  may  often  be  seen 
perched  on  some  dead  and  projecting  branch,  scrutinizing  the 
waters  for  its  expected  prey.  If  unsuccessful,  it  quickly  courses 
the  meanders  of  the  streams  or  borders  of  ponds  just  above 
their  surface,  and  occasionally  hovers  for  an  instant,  with  rap- 
idly moving  wings,  over  the  spot  where  it  perceives  the  gliding 
quarry ;  in  the  next  instant,  descending  with  a  quick  spiral 
sweep,  a  fish  is  seized  from  the  timid  fry,  with  which  it  returns 
to  its  post  and  swallows  in  an  instant.  When  startled  from 
the  perch,  on  which  it  spends  many  vacant  hours  digesting  its 
prey,  it  utters  commonly  a  loud,  harsh,  and  grating  cry,  very 
similar  to  the  interrupted  creakings  of  a  watchman's  rattle,  and 
almost,  as  it  were,  the  vocal  counterpart  to  the  watery  tumult 
amidst  which  it  usually  resides. 

The  nest — a  work  of  much  labor — is  now  burrowed  in  some 
dry  and  sandy  or  more  tenacious  bank  of  earth,  situated  be- 
yond the  reach  of  inundation.  At  this  task  both  the  parties 
join  with  bill  and  claws,  until  they  have  horizontally  perforated 
the  bank  to  the  depth  of  5  or  6  feet.  With  necessary  precau- 
tion, the  entrance  is  only  left  sufficient  for  the  access  of  a 
single  bird.  The  extremity,  however,  is  rounded  like  an  oven, 
so  as  to  allow  the  individuals  and  their  brood  a  sutiiciency  of 
room.  This  important  labor  is  indeed  prospective,  as  the  same 
hole  is  employed  for  a  nest  and  roost  for  many  succeeding 
years.  Here  the  eggs  are  deposited.  Incubation,  in  which 
both  parents  engage,  continues  for  sixteen  days;  and  they 
exhibit  great  solicitude  for  the  safety  of  their  brood.  The 
mother,  simulating  lameness,  sometimes  drops  on  the  water, 
fluttering  as  if  wounded,  and  unable  to  rise  from  the  stream. 
The  male  also,  perched  on  the  nearest  bough,  or  edge  of  the 
projecting  bank,  jerks  his  tail,  elevates  his  crest,  and  passing  to 
and  fro  before  the  intruder,  raises  his  angry  and  vehement 
rattle  of  complaint  (Audubon).  At  the  commencement  of 
winter,  the  frost  obliges  our  humble  Fisher  to  seek  more  open 
streams,  and  even  the  vicinity  of  the  sea ;  but  it  is  seen  to 
return  to  Pennsylvania  by  the  commencement  of  April. 


CHIMNEY    SWIFT. 

CHIMNEY   SWALLOW. 
Ch^tura  PELAGICA. 

Char.  General  color  sooty  brown,  paler  on  the  throat  and  breast, 
tinged  with  green  above.     Length  about  5^  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  a  chimney,  sometimes  in  a  hollow  tree  or  a  barn; 
made  of  twigs  cemented  with  saliva. 

Egf^s.     4-5;  white;  0.70  X  0.50. 

This  singular  bird,  after  passing  the  winter  in  tropical  Amer- 
ica, arrives  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  late  in  April  or 
early  in  May.  Its  migrations  extend  at  least  to  the  sources 
of  the  Mississippi,  where  it  was  observed  by  Mr.  Say.  More 
social  than  the  foreign  species,  which  frequents  rocks  and  ruins, 
our  Swift  takes  advantage  of  unoccupied  and  lofty  chimneys, 
the  original  roost  and  nesting  situation  being  tall,  gigantic 
hollow  trees  such  as  the  elm  and  buttonwood  {Platanus). 
The  nest  is  formed  of  slender  twigs  neatly  interlaced,  some- 
what like  a  basket,  and  connected  sufficiently  together  by  a 
copious  quantity  of  adhesive  gum  or  mucilage  secreted  by  the 
stomach  of  the  curious  architect.  This  rude  cradle  of  the 
young  is  small  and  shallow,  and  attached  at  the  sides  to 
the  wall  of  some  ci.imney  or  the  inner  surface  of  a  hollow 


464 


SWIFTS. 


:1 


tree ;  it  is  wholly  destitute  of  lining.  They  have  commonly 
two  broods  in  the  season.  So  assiduous  are  the  parents  that 
they  feed  the  young  through  the  greater  part  of  the  night ; 
their  habits,  however,  are  nearly  nocturnal,  as  they  fly  abroad 
most  at  and  before  sunrise,  and  in  the  twilight  of  evening. 
The  noise  which  they  make  while  passing  up  and  down  the 
chimney  resembles  almost  the  rumbling  of  distant  thunder. 
When  the  nests  get  loosened  by  rains  so  as  to  fall  down,  the 
young,  though  blind,  find  means  to  escape,  by  creeping  up  and 
clinging  to  the  sides  of  the  chimney  walls;  in  this  situation 
they  continue  to  be  fed  for  a  week  or  more.  Soon  tired  of 
their  hard  cradle,  they  generally  leave  it  long  before  they  are 
capable  of  flying. 

On  their  first  arrival,  and  for  a  considerable  time  after,  the 
males,  particularly,  associate  to  roost  in  a  general  resort.  This 
situation,  in  the  remote  and  unsettled  parts  of  the  country,  is 
usually  a  large  hollow  tree,  open  at  top.  These  well-known 
Swallow  trees  are  ignorantly  supposed  to  be  the  winter  quar- 
ters of  the  species,  where,  in  heaps,  they  doze  away  the  cold 
season  in  a  state  of  torpidity ;  but  no  proof  of  the  fact  is  ever 
adduced.  The  length  of  time  such  trees  have  been  resorted 
to  by  particular  flocks  may  be  conceived,  perhaps,  by  the 
account  of  a  hollow  tree  of  this  kind  described  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Harris  in  his  Journal.  The  ^latamis  alluded  to,  grew  in  the 
upper  part  of  Waterford,  In  Onio,  two  miles  from  the  Muskin- 
gum, and  its  hollow  tn  nk,  now  fallen,  of  the  diameter  of  5^ 
feet,  and  for  nearly  1 5  feet  upwards,  contained  an  entire  mass 
of  decayed  Swallow  feathers,  mixed  with  brownish  dust  and 
the  exuviae  of  insects.  In  inland  towns  these  birds  have  been 
known  to  make  their  general  roost  in  the  chimney  of  tht 
court-house.  Before  descending,  they  fly  in  large  flocks,  mak- 
ing many  ample  and  circuitous  sweeps  in  the  air ;  and  as  the 
point  c''  the  vortex  falls,  individuals  drop  into  the  chimney 
by  degrees,  until  the  whole  have  descended,  which  generally 
takes  place  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening.  They  all,  however, 
disappear  about  the  first  week  in  August.  Like  the  rest  of  the 
tribe,  the  Chimney  Swift  flies  very  quick,  and  with  but  slight 


chuck-will's-widovv. 


465 


vibrations  of  its  wings,  appearing  as  it  were  to  swim  in  the  air 
in  widening  circles,  shooting  backwards  and  forwards  through 
the  ambient  space  at  great  elevations,  and  yet  scarcely  moving 
its  wings.  Now  and  then  it  is  heard  to  utter,  in  a  hurried 
manner,  a  sound  like  tsip  tstp  tsip  tsee  tsee.  It  is  never  seen  to 
alight  but  in  hollow  trees  or  chimneys,  and  appears  always 
most  gay  and  active  in  wet  and  gloomy  weather. 

Near  the  Atlantic  border  this  species  is  found  north  to  50°,  but 
in  the  West  it  ranges  still  farther  northward. 


CHUCK- WILL'S- WIDOW. 

Antrostomus  carolinensis. 

Char.  Gape  extremely  wide,  the  rictal  bristles  with  lateral  filaments. 
■General  color  reddish  brown  mottled  with  black,  white,  and  tawny  ;  throat 
with  collar  of  pale  tawny,  terminal  third  of  outer  tail-feathers  white  or 
buffy;  under  parts  tawny  white.     Length  11  to  12  inches. 

A^est,  In  open  woods  or  dense  thicket.  No  attempt  is  made  at  build- 
ing a  receptacle  for  the  eggs,  which  are  laid  on  the  bare  ground  or  upon 
fallen  leaves. 

Eggs.  2;  white  or  huffish,  marked  with  brown  and  lavender;  1.40 
X  1.00. 

The  Carolina  Goatsucker  is  seldom  seen  to  the  north  of 
Virginia,  though  in  the  interior  its  migrations  extend  up  the 
shores  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  38th  degree.  After  wintering 
in  some  part  of  the  tropical  continent  of  America,  it  arrives  in 
Georgia  and  Louisiana  about  the  middle  of  March,  and  in  Vir- 
ginia early  in  April.  Like  the  following  species,  it  commences 
its  singular  serenade  of  Uhuck-^wiir s-widow  in  the  evening 
soon  after  sunset,  and  continues  it  with  short  interruptions  for 
several  hours.  Towards  morning  the  note  is  also  renewed 
until  the  opening  dawn.  In  the  day,  like  some  wandering 
spirit,  it  retires  to  secrecy  and  silence,  as  if  the  whole  had  only 
been  a  disturbed  dream.  In  a  still  evening  this  singular  call 
may  be  heard  for  half  a  mile,  its  tones  being  slower,  louder, 
and  more  full  than  those  of  the  Whip-poor-will.  The  species 
is  particularly  numerous  in  the  vast  forests  of  the  Mississippi, 

VOL.  I.  —  30 


466 


GOATSUCKERS. 


where  throughout  the  evening  its  echoing  notes  are  heard  in 
the  soUtary  glens  and  from  the  surrounding  and  silent  hills, 
becoming  almost  incessant  during  the  shining  of  the  moon ; 
and  at  the  boding  sound  of  its  elfin  voice,  when  familiar  and 
strongly  reiterated,  the  thoughtful,  superstitious  savage  becomes 
sad  and  pensive.  Its  flight  is  low,  and  it  skims  only  a  few  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  ground,  frequently  settling  on  logs 
and  fences,  whence  it  often  sweeps  around  in  pursuit  of  flying 
moths  and  insects,  which  constitute  its  food.  Sometimes  these 
birds  are  seen  sailing  near  the  ground,  and  occasionally  descend 
to  pick  up  a  beetle,  or  flutter  lightly  around  the  trunk  of  a  tree 
in  quest  of  some  insect  crawling  upon  the  bark.  In  rainy  and 
gloomy  weather  they  remain  silent  in  the  hollow  log  which 
affords  them  and  the  bats  a  common  roost  and  refuge  by  day. 
When  discovered  in  this  critical  situation,  and  without  the 
means  of  escape,  they  ruffle  up  their  feathers,  spread  open 
their  enormous  mouths,  and  'tter  a  murmur  almost  like  the 
hissing  of  a  snake,  thus  endc  vv^oring,  apparently,  to  intimidate 
their  enemy  when  cut  off  from  the  means  of  escape. 

This  species  also  lays  its  eggs,  two  in  number,  merely  on  the 
ground,  and  usually  in  the  woods ;  if  they  be  handled,  or  even 
the  young,  the  parents,  suspicious  of  danger,  remove  them  to 
some  other  place.  As  early  as  the  middle  of  August,  accord- 
ing to  Audubon,  these  birds  retire  from  the  United  States; 
though  some  winter  in  the  central  parts  of  East  Florida. 

The  general  habitat  of  this  species  is  the  South  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  States  and  the  lower  Mississippi  valley.  The  bird  ranges  to 
North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Ridgeway  reports  it  not  uncommon  in 
southern  Illinois. 


WHIP-POOR-WILL. 


467 


iard  in 
It  hills, 
moon; 
iar  and 
)ecomes 
few  feet 
on  logs 
of  flying 
les  these 
descend 
of  a  tree 
•ainy  and 
3g  which 
e  by  day. 
;hout  the 
ead  open 
t  like  the 
intimidate 

rely  on  the 

1,  or  even 

them  to 

t,  accord- 

d  States ; 

ida. 

tlantic  and 
ranges  to 
common  in 


WHIP-POOR-WILL. 

Antrostomus  vociferus. 

Char.  Gape  extremely  wide;  rictal  bristles  without  lateral  filaments. 
General  color  dull  gray  brown,  mottled  with  black,  white,  and  tawny; 
throat  with  collar  of  white  or  tawny ;  outer  tail-feathers  partly  white ; 
under  parts  gray  mottled  with  black.     Length  gj-^  to  10  inches. 

Nest.  In  dense  woods  or  shady  dells;  eggs  laid  on  the  ground  or 
amid  dry  leaves. 

Eggs.    2;  white  or  buffy  marked  brown  and  lavender ;  1.12  X  0.85. 

This  remarkable  and  well-known  nocturnal  bird  arrives  in 
the  Southern  States  in  March,  and  in  the  Middle  States  about 
the  close  of  April  or  the  beginning  of  May,  and  proceeds  in 
its  vernal  migrations  along  the  Atlantic  States  to  the  centre 
of  Massachusetts,  being  seldom  seen  beyond  the  latitude  of 
43° ;  and  yet  in  the  interior  of  the  continent,  according  to 
Vieillot,  it  continues  as  far  as  Hudson  Bay,  and  was  heard,  as 
usual,  by  Mr.  Say  at  Pembino,  in  the  high  latitude  of  49°.  In 
all  this  vast  intermediate  space,  as  far  south  as  Natchez  on  the 
Mississippi,  and  the  interior  of  Arkansas,  these  birds  familiarly 
breed  and  take  up  their  temporary  residence.  Some  also  pass 
the  winter  in  the  interior  of  East  Florida,  according  to  Audu- 
bon. In  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts,  however,  they  are 
uncommon,  and  always  affect  sheltered,  wild,  and  hilly  situa- 
tions, for  which  they  have  in  general  a  preference.  About 
the  same  time  that  the  sweetly  echoing  voice  of  the  Cuckoo  is 
first  heard  in  the  north  of  Europe,  issuing  from  the  leafy 
groves  as  the  sure  harbinger  of  the  flowery  month  of  May, 
arrives  amongst  us,  in  the  shades  of  night,  the  mysterious 
Whip-poor-will.  The  well-known  saddening  pound  is  first 
only  heard  in  the  distant  forest,  re-echoing  from  the  lonely  glen 
or  rocky  cliff ;  at  length  the  oft-told  solitary  tale  is  uttered  from 
the  fence  of  the  adjoining  field  or  garden,  and  sometimes  the 
slumbering  inmates  of  the  cottage  are  serenaded  from  the  low 
roof  or  from  some  distant  shed.  Su^  erstition,  gathering  terror 
from  every  extraordinary  feature  of  nature,  has  not  suffered 
this  harmless  nocturnal  babbler  to  escape  suspicion,  and  his 


468 


GOATSUCKERS. 


L 


familiar  approaches  are  sometimes  dreaded  as  an  omen  of 
misfortune. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  State  of  Delaware,  I  have  found 
these  birds  troublesomely  abundant  in  the  breeding  season,  so 
that  the  reiterated  echoes  of  ^whip-whip-poor-tvill,  ^whip-pen- 
willy  issuing  from  several  birds  at  the  same  time,  occasioned 
such  a  confused  vociferation  as  at  first  to  banish  sleep.  This 
call,  except  in  moonlight  nights,  is  continued  usually  till  mid- 
night, when  they  cease  until  again  aroused,  for  a  while,  at  the 
commencement  of  twilight.  The  first  and  last  syllables  of 
this  brief  ditty  receive  the  strongest  emphasis,  and  now  and 
then  a  sort  of  guttural  cluck  is  heard  between  the  repetitions ; 
but  the  whole  phrase  is  uttered  in  little  more  than  a  second 
of  time. 

Although  our  Whip  poor-will  seems  to  speak  out  in  such 
plain  English,  to  the  ears  of  the  aboriginal  Delaware  its  call  was 
wecodlis,  though  this  was  probably  some  favorite  phrase  or 
interpretation,  which  served  it  for  a  name.  The  Whip-poor- 
will,  when  engaged  in  these  nocturnal  rambles,  is  seen  to  fly 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  surface  in  quest  of  moths  and  other 
insects,  frequently,  where  abundant,  alighting  around  the  house. 
During  the  day  the  birds  retire  into  the  darkest  woods,  usually 
on  high  ground,  where  they  pass  the  time  in  silence  and 
repose,  the  weakness  of  their  sight  by  day  compelling  them 
to  avoid  the  glare  of  the  light. 

The  female  commences  laying  about  the  second  week  in 
May  in  the  Middle  States,  considerably  later  in  Massachusetts  ; 
she  is  at  no  pains  to  form  a  nest,  though  she  selects  for  her 
deposit  some  unfrequented  part  of  the  forest  near  a  pile  of 
brush,  a  heap  of  leaves,  or  the  low  shelving  of  a  hollow  rock, 
and  always  in  a  dry  situation ;  here  she  lays  two  eggs,  without 
any  appearance  of  an  artificial  bed.  This  deficiency  of  nest  is 
amply  made  up  by  the  provision  of  nature,  for,  like  Partridges, 
the  young  are  soon  able  to  run  about  after  their  parents  j  and 
until  the  growth  of  their  feathers  they  seem  such  shapeless 
lumps  of  clay-colored  down  that  it  becomes  nearly  impossible 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  ground  on  which  they  repose. 


WHIP-POOR-WILL. 


469 


Were  a  nest  present  in  the  exposed  places  where  we  find  the 
young,  none  would  escape  detection.  The  mother  also,  foith- 
ful  to  her  charge,  deceives  the  passenger  by  prostrating  herself 
along  the  ground  with  beating  wings,  as  if  in  her  dying  agony. 
The  activity  of  the  young  and  old  in  walking,  and  the  absence 
of  a  nest,  widely  distinguishes  these  birds  from  the  Swallows, 
with  which  they  are  associated.  A  young  fledged  bird  of  this 
species,  presented  to  me,  ran  about  with  great  celerity,  but 
refused  to  eat,  and  kept  continually  calling  out  at  short  inter- 
vals pe-ugh  in  a  low,  mournful  note. 

After  the  period  of  incubation,  or  about  the  middle  of  June, 
the  vociferations  of  the  males  cease,  or  are  but  rarely  given. 
Towards  the  close  of  summer,  previously  to  their  departure, 
they  are  again  occasionally  heard,  but  their  note  is  now  languid 
and  seldom  uttered ;  and  early  in  September  they  leave  us  for 
the  more  genial  climate  of  tropical  America,  being  there  found 
giving  their  usual  lively  cry  in  the  wilds  of  Cayenne  and 
Demerara.  They  enter  the  United  States  early  in  March,  but 
are  some  weeks  probably  in  attaining  their  utmost  northern 
limit. 

Their  food  appears  to  be  large  moths,  beetles,  grasshoppers, 
ants,  and  such  insects  as  frequent  the  bark  of  decaying  timber. 
Sometimes,  in  the  dusk,  they  will  skim  within  a  few  feet  of  a 
person,  making  a  low  chatter  as  they  pass.  They  also,  in  com- 
mon with  other  species,  flutter  occasionally  around  the  domes- 
tic cattle  to  catch  any  insects  which  approach  or  rest  upon 
them ;  and  hence  the  mistaken  notion  of  their  sucking  goats, 
while  they  only  cleared  them  of  molesting  vermin. 

The  Whip-poor-will  is  a  common  summer  resident  throughout 
New  England,  and  is  not  uncommon  in  the  Maritime  Provinces.  It 
is  common  also  in  Ontario,  and  Dr.  Robert  Bell  reports  finding  it 
in  the  southern  parts  of  the  Hudson  Bay  region. 


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NIGHTHAWK. 

GOATSUCKER.     BULL   BAT. 
Chordeiles  VIRGINIANUS. 

Char.  Gape  wide  ;  bill  extremely  small ;  no  rictal  bristles.  Above, 
dull  black  mottled  with  brown  and  gray  ;  wings  brown,  a  patch  of  white 
on  five  outer  primaries  ;  tail  dusky,  with  bars  of  gray  and  a  patch  of 
white  near  the  extremity  ;  lower  parts  reddish  white  with  bars  of  brown ; 
throat  with  patch  of  white.     Length  about  9K  inches. 

Nest.  Usually  in  open  woods  ;  the  eggs  generally  laid  upon  a  rock  or 
on  the  turf,  —  sometimes  they  are  laid  on  a  gravel  roof  in  a  city. 

Eggs.  2 ;  dull  white  or  buff,  thickly  mottled  with  brown,  slate,  and 
lilac;  1.25  X  0.85. 

Towards  the  close  of  April  the  Nighthawks  arrive  in  the 
Middle  States,  and  early  in  May  they  are  first  seen  near  the 
sea-coast  of  Massachusetts,  which  at  all  times  appears  to  be  a 
favorite  resort.  In  the  interior  of  the  continent  they  penetrate 
as  far  as  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  the  Territory  of  Oregon ;  they  are  likewise  observed 
around  the  dreary  coasts  of  Hudson  Bay  and  the  remotest 
Arctic  islands,  breeding  in  the  whole  intermediate  region  to 
the  more  temperate  and  elevated  parts  of  Georgia.  They  are 
now  commonly  seen  towards  evening,  in  pairs,  sailing  round  in 
sweeping  circles  high  in  the  air,  occasionally  descending  lower 


NIGHTHAWK. 


471 


^^ 


Above, 

I  of  white 

patch  of 

of  brown ; 

a  rock  or 

slate,  and 

in  the 
near  the 
;  to  be  a 
enetrate 
mntains, 
)bserved 
•emotest 
jgion  to 
hey  are 
ound  in 
ig  lower 


to  capture  flying  insects,  chiefly  of  the  larger  kind,  such  as 
wasps,  beetles,  and  moths.  About  the  middle  of  May,  or 
later,  the  female  selects  some  open  spot  in  the  woods,  the 
corner  of  a  corn-field  or  dry  gravelly  knoll,  on  which  to 
deposit  her  eggs,  which  are  only  two,  and  committed  to  the 
bare  ground,  where,  however,  from  the  similarity  of  their  tint 
with  the  soil,  they  are,  in  fact,  more  secure  from  observation 
than  if  placed  in  a  nest.  Here  the  male  and  his  mate  reside 
during  the  period  of  incubation,  roosting  at  a  distance  from 
each  other  on  the  ground  or  in  the  neighboring  trees ;  and  in 
consequence  of  the  particular  formation  of  their  feet,  like  the 
rest  of  the  genus,  they  rocst  or  sit  lengthwise  on  the  branch. 
During  the  progress  of  incubation  the  female  is  seen  frequently, 
for  some  hours  before  nightfall,  playing  about  in  the  air  over 
the  favorite  spot,  mounting  in  wide  circles,  occasionally  pro- 
pelled by  alternate  quick  and  slow  vibrations  of  the  wings, 
until  at  times  he  nearly  ascends  beyond  the  reach  of  sight, 
and  is  only  known  by  his  sharp  and  sudden  squeak,  which 
greatly  resembles  the  flying  shriek  of  the  towering  Swift.  At 
other  times  he  is  seen  suddenly  to  precipitate  himself  down- 
wards for  60  or  80  feet,  and  wheeling  up  again  as  rapidly ;  at 
which  instant  a  hollow  whirr,  like  the  rapid  turning  of  a 
spinning-wheel  or  a  strong  blowing  into  the  bung-hole  of  an 
empty  hogshead,  is  heard,  and  supposed  to  be  produced  by 
the  action  of  the  air  on  the  wings  or  in  the  open  mouth  of  the 
bird.  He  then  again  mounts  as  before,  playing  about  in  his 
ascent  and  giving  out  his  harsh  squeak  till  in  a  few  momenis 
the  hovering  is  renewed  as  before ;  and  at  this  occupation  the 
male  solely  continues  till  the  close  of  twilight.  The  Euro- 
pean Goatsucker  is  heard  to  utter  the  hollow  whirr  when 
perched  and  while  holding  it  head  downwards,  so  that  it  does 
not  appear  to  be  produced  by  the  rushing  of  the  air.  The 
female,  if  disturbed  while  sittmg  on  her  charge,  will  suff'er  the 
spectator  to  advance  within  a  foot  or  two  of  her  before  she 
leaves  the  nest ;  she  then  tumbles  about  and  flutters  with  an 
appearance  of  lameness  to  draw  off  the  observer,  when  at 
length  she  mounts  into  the  air  and  disappears.     On  other 


472 


GOATSUCKERS. 


occasions  the  parent,  probably  the  attending  male,  puffs  him- 
self up  as  it  were  into  a  ball  of  feathers;  at  the  same  time 
striking  his  wings  on  the  ground  and  opening  his  capacious 
mouth  to  its  full  extent,  he  stares  wildly  and  utters  a  blowing 
hiss  like  that  of  the  Barn  Owl  when  surprised  in  his  hole.  On 
observing  this  grotesque  manoeuvre,  and  this  appearance  so 
unlike  that  of  a  volatile  bird,  we  are  struck  with  the  propriety 
of  the  metaphorical  French  name  of  Crapaud  volans,  or 
Flying  Toad,  which  this  bird  indeed  much  resembles  while 
thus  shapelessly  tumbling  before  the  astonished  spectator. 
The  same  feint  is  also  made  when  he  is  wounded,  on  being 
approached.  Like  some  of  the  other  species,  instinctively 
vigilant  for  the  safety  of  their  misshapen  and  tender  brood, 
these  birds  also  probably  convey  them  or  the  eggs  from  the 
scrutiny  of  the  meddling  observer.  In  our  climate  they  have 
no  more  than  a  single  brood. 

Sometimes  the  Nighthawk,  before  his  departure,  is  seen  to 
visit  the  towns  and  cities,  sailing  in  circles  and  uttering  his 
squeak  as  he  flies  high  and  securely  over  the  busy  streets, 
occasionally  sweeping  down,  as  usual,  with  his  whirring  notes ; 
and  at  times  he  may  be  observed,  even  on  the  tops  of  chim- 
neys, uttering  his  harsh  call.  In  gloomy  weather  these  birds 
are  abroad  nearly  the  whole  day,  but  are  most  commonly  in 
motion  an  hour  or  two  before  dusk.  Sometimes  indeed  they 
are  seen  out  in  the  brightest  and  hottest  weather,  and  occa- 
sionally, while  basking  in  the  sun,  find  means  to  give  chase  to 
the  Cicindeli,  Carabi,  and  other  entirely  diurnal  insects,  as 
well  as  grasshoppers,  with  which  they  often  gorge  themselves 
in  a  surprising  manner ;  but  they  probably  seldom  feed  more 
than  an  hour  or  two  in  the  course  of  the  day.  On  Wappatoo 
Island,  at  the  estuary  of  the  Wahlamet,  they  were  till  the  i  oth 
of  September  numerous  and  familiar,  alighting  often  close  to 
the  dwellings,  in  quest  probably  of  crawling  insects  which  come 
out  in  the  dark. 

About  the  middle  of  August  they  begin  their  migrations 
towards  the  south,  on  which  occasion  they  may  be  seen  in  the 
evening  moving  in  scattered  flocks  consisting  of  several  hun- 


N^GHTHAWK. 


473 


dreds  together,  and  darting  after  insects  or  feeding  leisurely  as 
they  advance  towards  more  congenial  climes.  For  two  or 
three  weeks  these  processions  along  the  rivers  and  their  banks, 
tending  towards  their  destination,  are  still  continued.  Mingled 
with  the  wandering  host  are  sometimes  also  seen  the  different 
species  of  Swallow,  —  a  family  to  which  they  are  so  much  allied 
in  habits  and  character ;  but  by  the  20th  of  September  the 
whole  busy  troop  have  disappeared  for  the  season. 

I  have  observed  Nighthawks  flying  over  the  city  of  St.  John,  in 
New  Brunswick,  during  most  of  the  summer  months,  and  have 
known  of  the  eggs  being  found  frequently  on  gravel  roofs  in  that 
city.  

Note.  —  The  Flokida  Niohthawk  (C.  vira^wianus  chap- 
mani),  a  smaller  race,  has  been  discovered  breeding  at  Tarpon 
Springs,  Florida. 


END  OF  VOL.   I. 


